IC-NI 


LAWS  OF  MAINE: 

RELATING    TO 

PUBLIC   SCHOOLS 


1930 


1919 


LAWS  OF  MAINE 


RELATING  TO 


PUBLIC  SCHOOLS 


1919 


Compiled  by  the  State  Superintendent  and  printed 
agreeably  to  An  Act  approved  March  13,  1889 


This  pamphlet  will  be  sent  free  on  application  to  the  State  Super- 
intendent of  Public  Schools,  Augusta,  Maine 


CONTENTS. 


Education  of  Youth. 

(Chap.  16,  R.  S.  1916  as  amended) 


Sections 
Sections 
Sections 

Sections 

Sections 

Sections 

Sections 

Sections 

Sections 

Sections 

Sections 

Sections 

Sections 

Section 

Sections 

Sections 

Sections 

Chapter 

Chapter 

Chapter 

Chapter 

Chapter 

Chapter 

Chapter 

Chapter 

Chapter 


1-  15 
16-  36 
37-  54 


Chapter  217 


Chapter 
Sections 


Location  of  Schools. 
Duties  of  Towns. 

Powers    and   Duties   of   Superintending    School    Com- 
mittees. 

Superintendence  Through  the  Union  of  Towns. 
Compulsory  Education. 
Free  High  Schools  and  Academies. 
Duties  and  Qualifications  of  Instructors. 
Teachers'  Associations. 
Schools  in  Plantations. 
State  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools. 
State  Examinations  of  Teachers. 
Industrial  Education. 
Normal  Schools. 
Instruction   for  the  Blind. 
Penal  Provisions  Affecting  Schools. 
School  Funds. 
Teachers'  Pensions. 
Registration  of  Teachers. 
Promotion  of  Vocational  Education. 
Education  of  Deaf  and  Dumb  Children. 
Rating  and  Standardization  of  Schools. 
Training  of  Rural  Teachers. 
Physical  Education  in  the  Public  Schools. 
Funds  for  Vocational  Education. 
Schooling  in  Unorganized  Territory. 

Part-Time  and  Evening  School  Classes  for  Persons  Be- 
tween the  Ages  of  Fourteen  and  Eighteen  Years  Em- 
ployed in  Industrial  Establishments  Who  Have  Not 
Completed  the  Elementary  School. 

Upkeep,  Equipment  and  Extensions   for  the  Several  Nor- 
mal Schools  and  the  Madawaska  Training  School. 
228     Equalization  Fund  for  Secondary  Schools. 
20-31  of  Chap.  49,  R.  S.,  Chap.  190,  P.  L.  1919— Employment  of 
Children. 


55-  62 

63-  71 

72-104 
105-109 
110-112 
113-114 
120-125 
126-132 
133-139 
140-146 
147 

148-152 
153-168 
169-177 
137 
186 

22 

26 

51 

73 
105 
127 
205 


738445 


LAWS  OF  MAINE 

RELATING    TO 

PUBLIC  SCHOOLS 
1919 

Being  Chapter  16,  Revised  Statutes  of  1916  (and  amend- 
ments thereto)  together  with  certain  other  parts  of  the  Re- 
vised Statutes  and  Public  Laws  of  1917  and  1919,  governing 
the  management  of  all  public  schools  except  those  districts 
organized  with  special  powers  by  acts  of  the  legislature. 

CHAPTER  16 

EDUCATION  OF  YOUTH. 
Location  of  Schools. 

Sec.  1.  All  school  districts  abolished  except  districts  or- 
ganized by  act  of  legislature;  how  schools  in  such  districts 
shall  be  supported;  corporate  powers  of  districts  continued 
for  purpose  of  meeting  liabilities.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  1.  The  school 
districts  in  all  towns  in  the  state  are  abolished.  Provided, 
however,  that  school  districts  organized  with  special  powers 
by  act  of  the  legislature,  may  retain  such  organization  and 
special  powers ;  but  said  districts  shall  annually,  on  or  before 
the  first  day  of  June,  by  their  agents,  trustees  or  directors, 
submit  to  the  school  committees  of  their  several  towns  esti- 
mates of  the  amounts  required  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
schools  therein,  other  than  free  high  schools,  for  the  ensuing 
school  year,  and  shall  be  entitled  to  such  portion  of  the 
common  school  funds  of  the  town  as  said  committees  shall 
determine,  which  sum  shall  not  be  less  than  is  necessary  for 
the  maintenance  of  their  schools  for  a  period  equal  to  that 
of  the  other  schools  of  the  town ;  and  provided  further,  that 
the  corporate  powers  of  every  school  district  shall  continue 
so  far  as  the  same  may  be  necessary  for  meeting  its  liabili- 
ties and  enforcing  its  rights;  and  any  property  held  in  trust 
by  any  school  district  by  virtue  of  a  gift,  devise  or  bequest 
for  the  benefit  of  said  district  shall  continue  to  be  held  and 
used  according  to  the  terms  thereof. 
'.»<)  Me.  :J22;  1)1  Me.  519. 


O  SCHOOL   LAWS  OF   MAINE. 

Sec.  2.     No  change  in  location  of  any  school  legally  estab- 
lished ;  towns  may  determine  number  and  location  on  recom- 
mendation of  school  committee;  schools  with  few  scholars 
may  be  suspended;  superintendent  shall  procure  conveyance 
for.  scholars;  committee  may  furnish  board  instead  of  pro- 
viding conveyance.    R.  S.  c.  15,  §  2.    1907,  c.  90.    1913,  c.  148. 
The  location  of  any  school  legally  established  prior  to  the 
seventeenth   day   of   March,    eighteen   hundred   and   ninety- 
three  continues  unchanged,   notwithstanding  the   district   is 
abolished;  but  any  town  at  its  annual  meeting,  or  at  a  meet- 
ing called  for  the  purpose,  may  determine  the  number  and 
location  of  its  schools,  and  may  discontinue  them  or  change 
their  location;   but  such  discontinuance  or  change  of  loca- 
tion shall  be  made  only  on  the  written  recommendation  of 
the    superintending    school    committee,    and    on    conditions 
proper  to  preserve  the  just  rights  and  privileges  of  the  in- 
'  habitants  for  whose  benefit  such  schools  were  established  ; 
provided,  however,  that  in  case  any   school   shall   hereafter 
have   too   few   scholars   for   its   profitable   maintenance,   the 
superintending  school  committee  may  suspend  the  operation 
of  such  school  for  not  more  than  one  year  unless  otherwise 
instructed   by   the   town,    but   any   public    school    failing   to 
maintain  an  average  attendance  for  any   school  year,  of  at 
least  eight  pupils,  shall  be  and  hereby  is  suspended,  unless 
the  town  in  which  said  school  is  located  shall  by  vote,  at  the 
annual   meeting,   or   at   a   meeting   called   for  that   purpose, 
after  the  said  committee  shall  have  made  a  written  recom- 
mendation to  that  effect,  instruct  its  superintending  school 
committee  to  maintain  said  school.     The  superintendent  of 
schools   in   each   town   shall   procure   the   conveyance   of   all 
common  school  pupils   residing  in  his  town,  a  part  or  the 
whole  of  the  distance,  to  and  from  the  nearest  suitable  school, 
for  the  number  of  weeks  for  which  schools  are  maintained 
in   each  year,  when   such   pupils   reside   at    such   a   distance 
from  the  said  school  as  in  the  judgment  of  the  superintending 
school   committee   shall   render   such   conveyance   necessary. 
Provided,  however,  that  the  superintending  school  commit- 
tee may  authorize  the  superintendent  of  schools,  to  pay  th 
board  of  any  pupil  or  pupils  at  a   suitable  place  near  an> 
established  school  instead  of  providing  conveyance  for  sak 
pupil  or  pupils,  when  in  their  judgment  it  may  be  done  a 
an  equal  or  less  expense  than  by  conveyance. 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE.  7 

Sec.  3.  Schoolhouse  lots  acquired  by  condemnation;  dam- 
ages, how  appraised;  lot  to  revert  to  owner  if  not  occupied 
for  two  years.  Land  may  be  taken  for  schoolhouse  lot, 
playgrounds.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  3.  When  a  location  for  the  erec- 
tion or  removal  of  a  schoolhouse  and  requisite  buildings  has 
been  legally  designated,  by  vote  of  the  town  at  any  town 
meeting  called  for  that  purpose,  and  the  owner  thereof  re- 
fuses to  sell,  or,  in  the  opinion  of  the  municipal  officers,  asks 
an  unreasonable  price  for  it,  or  resides  without  the  state 
and  has  no  authorized  agent  or  attorney  therein,  they  may 
lay  out  a  schoolhouse  lot,  not  exceeding  three  acres,  and 
appraise  the  damages  as  is  provided  for  laying  out  town 
ways,  and  appraising  the  damages  therefor;  and  on  payment 
or  tender  of  such  damages,  or  if  such  owner  does  not  reside 
in  the  state,  upon  depositing  such  damages  in  the  treasury 
of  such  town  for  his  use,  the  town  designating  it  may  take 
such  lot  to  be  held  and  used  for  the  purposes  aforesaid ;  and 
when  such  schoolhouse  has  ceased  to  be  thereon  for  two 
years,  said  lot  reverts  to  the  owner,  his  heirs  or  assigns. 
And  any  town  or  city  may  take  real  estate  for  the  enlarge- 
ment or  extension  of  any  location  designated  for  the  erection 
or  removal  of  a  schoolhouse  and  requisite  buildings  and 
playgrounds,  as  herein  provided;  but  no  real  estate  shall  be 
so  taken  within  fifty  feet  of  a  dwelling-house,  and  all  school- 
house  lots  and  playgrounds  that  require  fencing  shall  be 
fenced  by  the  town  or  city. 

52  Me.  146;  60  Me.  405,  542,  545;  63  Me.  192 ;  67  Ale.  283 ;  77  Me. 
120;  98  Me.  131. 

Sec.  4.     Appeal  by  aggrieved  owner.     R.  S.  c.  15,  §  4.     If 

the  owner  is  aggrieved  at  the  location  of  the  lot,  or  the 
damages  awarded,  he  may  apply  to  the  county  commis- 
sioners within  six  months,  who  may  change  the  location  and 
assess  the  damages.  If  the  damages  are  increased,  or  the 
location  changed,  such  town  or  district  shall  pay  the  dam- 
ages and  costs;  otherwise  the  costs  shall  be  paid  by  the 
applicant. 

60  Me.  :}:J5,  542,  543;     63  Me.  192  ;     98  Me.  131. 

Sec.  5.  Schoolhouse  lots,  erroneous  location,  how  re- 
established and  made  valid.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  5.  If  any  town 
or  school  district,  by  its  officers  or  by  a  committee,  has  desig- 
nated, located  and  described  a  lot  upon  which  to  erect,  move 
or  repair  a  schoolhouse,  and  from  mistake  or  omission  has 


8  SCHOOL  LAWS   OF   MAINE. 

failed  to  comply  with  the  law,  whereby  such  location  has 
been  rendered  invalid,  three  legal  voters  and  taxpayers 
thereof  may  apply  in  writing  to  the  selectmen  of  said  town, 
and  have  the  lot,  so  designated  or  described,  re-appraised  by 
them. 

Sec.  6.  Notice  of  appraisement  and  hearing.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
§  6.  The  selectmen  of  any  town  to  whom  such  application 
has  been  made,  shall  forthwith  give  not  less  than  seven  nor 
more  than  twenty  days'  notice,  to  the  clerk  of  said  town  or 
district  and  to  the  owner  of  such  real  estate,  or  to  the  persons 
having  the  same  in  charge,  of  the  time  and  place  by  them 
fixed  for  such  hearing,  and  shall,  after  examination  and  hear- 
ing of  all  interested,  appraise  the  lot  as  set  out  and  affix  a 
fair  value  thereon,  exclusive  of  improvements  made  by  said 
district  or  town,  either  by  buildings  or  otherwise;  and  shall, 
as  soon  as  practicable,  notify  the  town  or  district  clerk,  and 
the  persons  interested  in  said  estate  who  had  been  notified 
as  hereinbefore  provided,  of  the  sum  at  which  said  lot  has 
been  appraised. 

Sec.  7.  Assessment  and  collection.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  7.  The 
sum  fixed  as  the  value  of  said  lot  shall  be  assessed,  collected 
and  paid  over  as  other  school  money. 

Sec.  8.  Tender  to  be  allowed  in  payment.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  8. 
Any  sum  which  has  been  tendered  and  is  in  the  hands  or 
under  the  control  of  the  persons  owning  or  having  charge 
of  such  land,  shall  be  allowed  in  payment  of  said  appraisal. 

Sec.  9.  Either  party  may  appeal.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  9.  If  the 
town  or  district,  or  persons  owning  or  having  charge  of  the 
land  on  which  such  location  is  made,  are  dissatisfied  with 
such  appraisal,  either  party  may  within  ten  days  appeal  to 
the  county  commissioners  of  the  county  in  which  the  land 
lies,  by  filing  a  copy  of  the  proceedings  and  a  claim  of  appeal 
with  said  commissioners,  and  the  determination  of  a  ma- 
jority of  said  commissioners  not  residents  of  said  town,  shall 
be  final. 

Sec.  10.  Improvements  inure  to  town  or  district.  R.  S.  c. 
15,  §  10.  When  any  school  district  or  town  has  erected  or 
moved  a  building  upon  such  lot  or  in  any  way  improved  the 
same,  such  improvement  shall  inure  to  the  benefit  of  such 
town  or  district,  and  the  same  may  be  as  completely  occupied 
and  controlled  by  such  town  or  district  as  it  would  have  been 
if  such  location  had  been  in  strict  conformitv  to  law. 


SCHOOL  LxVWS   OF  MAINE.  9 

Sec.  11.  Tax  not  affected  by  error  in  location.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
§  11.  The  legality  of  a  tax  assessed  to  build,  repair  or  re- 
move a  schoolhouse  and  to  pay  for  a  lot,  shall  not  be  affected 
by  any  mistake  or  error  in  the  designation  or  location  thereof. 

Sec.  12.  Plan  to  be  approved  by  committee.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
§  12.  1909,  c.  88,  §  3.  A  plan  for  the  erection  or  reconstruc- 
tion of  any  schoolhouse  voted  by  a  town,  shall  first  be  ap- 
proved by  the  superintending  school  committee;  and  in  case 
no  special  building  committee  has  been  chosen  by  the  town, 
said  superintending  school  committee  shall  have  charge  of 
said  erection  or  reconstruction ;  provided,  however,  that 
they  may  if  they  see  lit,  delegate  said  power  and  duty  to 
the  superintendent  of  schools. 

Sec.  13.  Plans  and  specifications  to  be  furnished  by  state 
superintendent.  1909,  c.  88,  §  1.  1913,  c.  89.  The  state 
superintendent  of  public  schools  shall  procure  architects' 
plans  and  specifications  for  school  buildings  of  not  exceeding 
four  rooms  each,  and  full  detail  working  plans  therefor.  Said 
plans  and  specifications  shall  be  loaned  to  any  superintending 
school  committee  or  school  building  committee  desiring  to 
erect  a  new  school  building.  For  the  use  of  the  state  super- 
intendent of  public  schools  in  procuring  such  plans  and 
specifications  the  sum  of  two  hundred  dollars  annually  shall 
be  appropriated. 

no  ]\Jc.  z-i:>. 

Sec.  14.  Provision  for  heating,  lighting  and  ventilating. 
1909,  c.  88,  §  2.  1917,  c.  62.  Where  the  plans  and  specifica- 
tions prepared  by  the  state  superintendent  are  not  used,  all 
superintending  school  committees  of  towns  in  which  new 
schoolhouses  are  to  be  erected,  shall  make  suitable  provision 
for  the  heating,  lighting  and  ventilating  and  hygienic  condi- 
tions of  such  buildings,  and  all  plans  and  specifications  for 
any  such  proposed  school  building  and  plans  for  the  recon- 
struction or  remodeling  of  any  school  building,  the  expense 
for  which  shall  exceed  five  hundred  dollars,  shall  be  sub- 
mitted to  and  approved  by  the  state  superintendent  of  pub- 
lic schools  and  the  state  board  of  health  before  the  same 
shall  be  accepted  by  the  superintending  school  committee  or 
school  building  committee  of  the  town  in  which  it  is  pro- 
posed to  erect  such  building. 

110  Me.  :M2. 


10  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

Sec.    15.     Schoolhouses    shall    be    provided    with    proper 
exits;  municipal  officers  shall  correct  defects.     1909,  c.  100. 

Any  building  which  is  used  in  whole  or  in  part  as  a  school- 
house  shall  be  provided  with  proper  egresses  or  other  means 
of  escape  from  fire  sufficient  for  the  use  of  all  persons  therein 
accommodated.  These  egresses  and  means  of  escape  shall 
be  kept  unobstructed,  in  good  repair  and  ready  for  use. 
Stairways  on  the  outside  of  the  building  shall  have  suitable 
railed  landings  at  each  story  above  the  first,  accessible  at 
each  story  from  doors  or  windows ;  and  such  stairways,  doors 
or  windows  shall  be  kept  clean  of  snow,  ice  and  other  ob- 
structions. In  school  buildings  of  more  than  one  story  there 
shall  be  at  least  two  separate  means  of  egress  by  inside  or 
outside  stairways,  and  each  story  above  the  first  shall  be 
supplied  with  means  of  extinguishing  fire,  consisting  of  pails 
of  water  or  other  portable  apparatus,  or  of  a  hose  attached 
to  a  suitable  water  supply  and  such  appliance  shall  be  kept 
at  all  times  ready  for  use  and  in  good  condition.  Upon 
written  notification  by  the  superintending  school  committee 
that  any  school  building  does  not  meet  the  specifications 
herein  named,  the  municipal  officers  of  the  town  shall  at  once 
proceed  to  correct  the  defects,  and  any  failure  so  to  act  shall 
render  the  town  liable  to  the  provisions  of  section  nineteen  of 

this  chapter. 

See.c.  30,  §  37;  c.  23,  §  27. 

Duties  of  Towns. 

Sec.  16.  Towns  to  raise  money  for  schools;  expenditure. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  13.  1905,  c.  48,  §  1.  1907,  c.  Ill,  §1.  1909,  c. 
128.  Every  town  shall  raise  and  expend,  annually,  for  the 
support  of  common  schools  therein,  exclusive  of  the  income 
of  any  corporate  school  fund,  or  of  any  grant  from  the  reve- 
nue or  fund  from  the  state,  or  of  any  voluntary  donation, 
devise  or  bequest,  or  of  any  forfeiture  accruing  to  the  use  of 
schools,  not  less  than  eighty  cents  for  each  inhabitant,  ac- 
cording to  the  census  by  which  representatives  to  the  legis- 
lature were  last  apportioned,  under  penalty  of  forfeiting  not 
less  than  twice  nor  more  than  four  times  the  amount  of  its 
deficiency,  and  all  moneys  provided  by  towns,  or  appor- 
tioned by  the  state  for  the  support  of  common  schools,  shall 
be  expended  for  the  maintenance  of  common  schools  estab- 


SCHOOL  LAWS   OF  MAHSTE.  11 

lished  and  controlled  by  the  towns  by  which  said  moneys  are 
provided,  or  to  which  said  moneys  are  apportioned;  but 
nothing  in  this  section  shall  be  so  construed  as  to  annul,  or 
render  void,  the  provisions  made  in  section  twenty-one  of 
this  chapter  for  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  union 
schools  by  adjoining  towns. 

See  §§  15:),  154,  164;  c.  8,  §§  20,  21;  c.  17,  §  56;  68  Me.  584;  72 
Me.  166;  76  Ale.  416;  92  Me.  327;  101)  Me.  173. 

Sec.  17.  Expenditures  by  towns  failing  to  account  for 
permanent  school  funds.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  14.  All  towns  in- 
corporated since  seventeen  hundred  and  eighty-eight,  not  for- 
merly parts  of  other  towns,  which  fail  to  account  for  the 
permanent  school  fund  arising  from  sale  or  lease  of  school 
lands  in  said  towns,  shall  annually  raise  and  expend  for  the 
maintenance  of  common  schools  not  less  than  forty-five  dol- 
lars in  addition  to  the  amount  required  by  law  to  be  raised 
and  expended  for  the  support  of  said  schools. 

Sec.  18.  School  money,  how  paid  by  towns.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
§  15.  1905,  c.  48,  §  2.  1913,  c.  122.  1915,  c.  291.  No  money 
appropriated  by  law  for  public  schools  shall  be  paid  from  the 
treasury  of  any  town,  except  upon  written  order  of  its  mu- 
nicipal officers;  and  no  such  order  shall  be  drawn  by  said 
officers  except  upon  presentation  of  a  properly  avouched  bill 
of  items,  said  bill  of  items  having  first  been  approved  by  a 
majority  of  the  members  of  the  superintending  school  com- 
mittee and  certified  by  the  superintendent  of  schools.  The 
unexpended  balance  of  all  moneys  raised  by  towns,  or  re- 
ceived from  the  state,  for  the  payment  of  wages  and  board 
of  teachers,  fuel,  janitors'  services,  conveyance  or  tuition  and 
board  of  scholars,  shall  be  credited  to  the  school  resources 
for  the  year  following  that  in  which  said  unexpended  balance 
accrued. 

Sec.  19.  School  fund  and  mill  tax  to  be  withheld  from 
delinquent  towns.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  16.  1905,  c.  48,  §  3.  1909, 
c.  59.  1913,  c.  181.  When  the  governor  and  council  have 
reason  to  believe  that  a  town  has  neglected  to  raise  and 
expend  the  school  money  required  by  law,  or  to  employ 
teachers  certified  as  required  by  law,  or  to  have  instruction 
given  in  the  subjects  prescribed  by  law,  or  to  provide  suitable 
textbooks  in  the  subjects  prescribed  by  law,  or  faithfully  to 
expend  the  school  money  received  from  the  state,  or  in  any 
way,  to  comply  with  the  law  prescribing  the  duties  of  towns 


12  SGHOOL  LAWS  OF   .MAIN].;. 

in  relation  to  public  schools,  they  shall  direct  the  treasurer 
of  state  to  withhold  from  the  apportionment  of  state  school 
funds  made  to  that  town  such  amount  as  they  may  deem 
expedient  and  the  amount  so  withheld  shall  not  be  paid  until 
such  town  shall  satisfy  said  governor  and  council  that  it  has 
expended  the  full  amount  of  school  money  as  required  by 
law  and  that  it  has  complied  in  all  ways  with  the  law  pre- 
scribing the  duties  of  towns  in  relation  to  public  schools; 
and  whenever  such  town  shall  fail,  within  the  year  for  which 
the  apportionment  is  made,  so  to  satisfy  the  governor  and 
council,  the  said  amount  withholden  shall  be  forfeited  and 
shall  be  added  to  the  permanent  school  fund  for  the  year 
next  succeeding. 

Sec.  20.  Equal  school  privileges  shall  be  provided  for  all 
pupils.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  17.  1909,  c.  29.  1915,  c.  89.  The 
school  moneys  of  every  town  shall  be  so  expended  as  to  give 
as  nearly  as  practicable  the  same  aggregate  annual  length 
of  terms  in  all  its  schools,  and  every  town  shall  make  pro- 
vision for  the  maintenance  of  all  its  schools  for  not  less  than 
thirty  weeks  annually.  Any  town  failing  to  maintain  its 
schools  as  provided  in  this  section,  shall  be  debarred  from 
drawing  its  state  school  moneys  until  it  shall  have  made 
suitable  provisions  for  so  maintaining  them  thereafter. 

Sec.  21.  Union  schools  may  be  maintained  by  adjoining 
towns ;  management  of  such  schools.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  18.  Ad- 
joining towns,  upon  the  Avritten  recommendation  of  the 
school  committees  of  said  towns,  may  by  concurrent  action 
maintain  union  schools  for  the  benefit  of  parts  of  said  towns 
constituting  on  the  first  day  of  March,  eighteen  hundred  and 
ninety-four,  union  school  districts,  or  may  establish  such 
schools,  and  shall  contribute  to  their  support  each  in  propor- 
tion to  the  number  of  scholars  in  each  of  said  towns  at- 
tending such  schools.  Said  schools  shall  be  under  the 
management  of  the  school  committee  of  the  town  in  which 
their  schoolhouses  are  located. 

Sec.  22.  Purposes  for  which  school  fund  shall  be  used. 
Parent  or  guardian  may  provide  textbooks;  second-hand 
books  shall  not  be  purchased.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  19.  1905,  c.  48, 
§  4.  1909,  c.  131.  Towns  shall  expend  the  entire  amount  of 
the  school  fund  and  mill  tax  received  from  the  state  together 
with  the  amount  arising  from  the  eighty  cents  per  capita  as 
provided  in  section  sixteen  of  this  chapter,  and  the  funds 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF   MAINE.  13 

arising  from  the  various  sources  enumerated  in  the  first  four 
lines  of  said  section,  and  the  funds  arising  from  the  pro- 
visions of  section  seventeen  of  this  chapter,  for  the  payment 
of  teachers'  wages  and  board,  fuel,  janitors'  services,  con- 
veyance of  scholars  and  tuition  and  board  of  scholars  as  pro- 
vided in  section  two  and  section  sixty-seven  of  this  chapter 
and  shall  provide  school  books,  apparatus  and  appliances  for 
the  use  of  pupils  in  the  public  schools,  including  all  free  high 
schools,  at  the  expense  of  said  town,  and  shall  also  pay  for 
the  necessary  repairs  of  school  buildings  and  the  insurance 
on  the  same,  if  any,  improvement  and  maintenance  of  school 
yards  and  playgrounds  out  of  a  sum  or  sums  of  money  raised 
and  appropriated  for  that  purpose,  which  shall  be  assessed 
like  other  money  and  shall  be  in  addition  to  and  independent 
of  the  amount  which  towns  are  required  by  law  to  raise, 
assess  and  expend  for  the  support  of  common  schools ;  pro- 
vided, however,  that  any  parent  or  guardian  of  any  pupil  in 
the  public  schools  may  at  his  own  expense  procure  for  the 
separate  and  exclusive  use  of  such  pupil  the  textbooks  re- 
quired to  be  used  in  such  schools,  and  no  second-hand  books 
shall  be  purchased  for  the  use  of  any  school ;  whoever  vio- 
lates this  provision  shall  forfeit  not  exceeding  five  hundred 
dollars,  to  be  recovered  in  an  action  of  debt  by  any  school 
officer  or  person  aggrieved. 

See  §§  162,  163. 

Sec.  23.  Distribution  of  books,  etc.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  20. 
School  committees  shall  make  such  rules  and  regulations  not 
repugnant  to  law,  as  they  deem  proper,  for  the  distribution 
and  preservation  of  schoolbooks  and  appliances  furnished 
at  the  expense  of  the  town. 

Sec.  24.  Damages  for  injuring  or  destroying,  recovered  of 
parent  or  guardian.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  21.  When  a  pupil  in  the 
public  schools  loses,  destroys,  or  unnecessarily  injures  any 
such  schooibook  or  appliance,  furnished  such  pupil  at  the 
expense  of  said  town,  his  parent  or  guardian  shall  be  noti- 
fied, and  if  the  loss  or  damage  is  not  made  good  to  the  satis- 
faction of  such  committee  within  a  reasonable  time,  they 
shall  report  the  case  to  the  assessors,  who  shall  include  in 
the  next  town  tax  of  the  delinquent  parent  or  guardian  the 
value  of  the  book  or  appliance  so  lost,  destroyed  or  injured, 
to  be  assessed  and  collected  as  other  town  taxes. 


14  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

Sec.  25.  Cities  and  towns  may  raise  money  for  evening 
schools.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  22.  Any  city  or  town  may,  in  addition 
to  the  sum  raised  for  the  support  of  the  common  schools, 
raise  and  appropriate  money  for  the  support  of  evening 
schools,  which  shall  admit  persons  of  any  age,  shall  teach 
only  the  elementary  branches,  and  shall  be  under  the  direc- 
tion and  supervision  of  the  superintending  school  com- 
mittee. 

See  §  137. 

Sec.  26.  Instruction  in  industrial  or  mechanical  drawing. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  23.  Any  city  or  town  may  annually  make  pro- 
vision for  free  instruction  in  industrial  or  mechanical  draw- 
ing, to  persons  over  fifteen  years  of  age,  either  in  day  or 
evening  schools,  under  direction  of  the  superintending  school 
committee. 

Sec.  27.  Manual  training  schools.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  24.  Any 
city  or  town  may,  in  addition  to  the  sum  raised  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  common  schools,  raise  and  appropriate  money  for 
the  support  of  manual  training  schools  and  may  receive  gifts 
and  bequests  for  the  use,  maintenance  and  support  of  such 
schools. 

See  §§  135-138. 

Sec.  28.  Such  schools  under  direction  of  committee ;  rules 
and  regulations.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  25.  Such  schools  shall  be 
under  the  control,  direction  and  supervision  of  the  superin- 
tending school  committee,  and  shall  admit  such  persons  be- 
tween the  ages  of  six  and  twenty-one  years,  and  shall  give 
such  courses  of  instruction  as  said  committee  may  determine. 
Pupils  in  such  schools  shall  be  subject  to  the  same  condi- 
tions, rules  and  regulations  as  are  provided  for  public  schools. 

Sec.  29.  Scholars  at  light  stations.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  26.  1911, 
c.  161.  Persons  between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty-one 
years  living  at  any  light  station,  fog  warning  station  or  life 
saving  station,  shall  be  admitted  to  any  public  school  in  the 
state  without  paying  tuition ;  such  scholars  shall  be  entitled 
to  all  privileges  and  benefits,  and  be  subject  to  the  same 
conditions,  rules  and  regulations  as  scholars  residing  in  the 
town  in  which  they  attend  school. 

Sec.  30.  School  age.  Kindergartens.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  27. 
1911,  c.  22.  1917,  c.  134.  The  age  of  pupils  allowed  to 
attend  the  public  schools  of  the  state  is  hereby  fixed  between 
the  ages  of  five  and  twenty-one  years;  and  every  child  be- 


SCHOOL  LAWS   OF  MAINE.  15 

tween  the  said  ages  shall  have  the  right  to  attend  the  public 
schools  in  the  town  in  which  his  parent  or  guardian  has  a 
legal  residence,  subject  to  such  reasonable  regulations  as  to 
the  numbers  and  qualifications  of  pupils  to  be  admitted  to 
the  respective  schools  and  as  to  other  school  matters  as  the 
superintending  school  committee  shall  from  time  to  time 
prescribe ;  provided,  however,  that  the  superintending  school 
committee  of  any  city  or  town  may  and  upon  the  filing  with 
the  municipal  officers  of  such  city  or  town  of  a  petition  not 
less  than  one  month  before  the  annual  town  meeting  by  the 
parents  or  guardians  of  thirty  or  more  children  between  four 
and  six  years  of  age  living  within  a  mile  of  a  public  elemen- 
tary school,  shall,  unless  otherwise  instructed  by  the  town 
or  city,  maintain  a  kindergarten  or  kindergartens  as  a  part  of 
the  common  school  course,  and  pupils  shall  be  allowed  to  at- 
tend such  a  kindergarten  or  kindergartens  upon  reaching  the 
age  of  four  years ;  provided  further,  that  unless  the  average 
daily  attendance  in  any  kindergarten  shall  be  fifteen  or  more 
for  any  school  year  the  superintending  school  committee, 
upon  the  recommendation  of  the  superintendent  of  schools, 
may  discontinue  the  school ;  provided  further,  that  no  person 
shall  be  allowed  to  teach  in  any  kindergarten  maintained 
under  the  provisions  of  this  section  who  has  not  completed 
at  least  a  two  years'  course  in  kindergarten  training  and 
received  a  certificate  or  diploma  from  a  recognized  kinder- 
garten training  school  approved  by  the  state  superintendent 
of  public  schools. 

Sec.  31.  Annual  school  returns  to  state  superintendent. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  28,  1909,  c.  91.  The  assessors  or  municipal 
officers  of  each  town,  shall,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  each 
May,  make  to  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  a 
certificate,  embracing  the  following  items : 

I.  The  amount  voted  by  the  town  for  common  schools  at 
the  preceding  annual  meeting. 

II.  The  amount  of  school  moneys  payable  to  the  town 
from  the  state  treasury  during  the  year  ending  with  the  first 
day  of  the  preceding  April. 

III.  The  amount  of  money  actually  expended   for  com- 
mon schools  during  the  preceding  fiscal  year  of  the  town. 

IV.  The  amount  of  school  moneys  unexpended  at  the  ex- 
piration of  the  preceding  fiscal  year  of  the  town. 

V.  Answers  to  such  other  inquiries  as  are  presented  to 


16  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

secure  a  full  and  complete  statement  of  school  revenues  and 
expenditures. 

Sec.  32.  Election  of  superintending  school  committee, 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  29.  Every  town  shall  choose  by  ballot  at  its 
annual  meeting,  a  superintending-  school  committee  of  three, 
to  hold  office  as  provided  in  the  following  section  and  shall 
fill  vacancies  arising  therein  at  each  subsequent  annual  meet- 
ing. No  person  is  ineligible  to  the  office  of  superintending 
school  committee  on  account  of  sex. 

See  Const,  of  Me.  Art.  ix.  §  1. 

Sec.  33.  Superintending  school  committees,  when  first 
chosen,  shall  arrange  terms  of  office;  vacancies.  No  mem- 
ber shall  be  employed  to  teach  in  his  own  town.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
§  30.  1919,  c.  155.  School  committees  first  chosen  shall  des- 
ignate by  lot  a  member  or  members  to  hold  office  for  one. 
two  and  three  years,  respectively,  in  manner  as  follows :  one 
for  one  year,  one  for  two  years  and  one  for  three  years ;  and 
they  shall  certify  such  designation  to  the  town  clerk  to  be  by 
him  recorded ;  and  thereafterwards  one  member  shall  be 
chosen  by  ballot  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  town,  to  hold 
office  for  three  years.  Said  committee  may  fill  vacancies 
occurring  between  annual  meetings,  and  the  term  of  office  of 
any  member  of  the  committee  so  chosen  shall  expire  at  the 
next  annual  meeting.  No  member  of  the  superintending 
school  committee  of  any  town  shall  be  employed  as  a  teacher 
in  any  public  school  in  said  town.  In  case  any  member  of 
the  superintending  school  committee  shall  remove  from  the 
town  or  be'  absent  for  more  than  ninety  days  a  vacancy  shall 
be  declared  to  exist  and  the  remaining  members  shall  within 
thirty  days  thereafter  choose  another  member  as  hereinbefore 
provided.  Whenever  the  remaining  members  fail  to  appoint 
a  person  to  fill  a  vacancy  the  same  may  be  filled  by  election 
at  a  town  meeting  called  for  the  purpose. 

Sec.  34.  Sections  32  and  33  shall  not  apply  to  certain 
cities.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  31.  The  provisions  of  the  two  preceding 
sections  shall  not  apply  to  cities  whose  charters  specify  the 
methods  of  election  and  term  of  office  of  a  superintending 
school  committee  or  board  of  education;  nor  to  towns,  cities 
and  incorporated  districts  authorized  by  private  and  special 
laws  to  choose  school  committees  other  than  those  herein 
provided  for. 


SCHOOL   LAWS   OF  MAINE.  17 

Sec.  35.  Penalty  for  neglect  to  choose  committee.  R.  S. 
c.  15,' §  32.  A  town  failing  to  elect  members  of  the  super- 
intending school  committee  as  required  by  law  forfeits  not 
less  than  thirty,  nor  more  than  two  hundred  dollars. 

Sec.  36.  Committee  shall  serve  without  pay;  compensa- 
tion of  superintendent.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  33.  Superintending 
school  committees  shall  serve  without  pay,  unless  otherwise 
voted  by  the  town,  but  the  superintendent  shall  receive  for 
his  services  such  sum  as  the  town  shall  annually  vote  there- 
for, which  sum  shall  in  no  case  be  less  than  two  dollars  a  day 
for  every  day  of  actual  service  and  necessary  traveling  ex- 
penses. 

Powers  and   Duties   of   Superintending   School   Committees 
and  Superintendents. 

Sec.  37.  Management  of  schools;  election  and  discharge 
of  superintendent.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  34.  1911,  c.  173.  1913, 
c.  78.  1915,  c.  129.  The  management  of  the  schools  and  the 
custody  and  care,  including  repairs  and  insurance  on  school 
buildings,  of  all  school  property  in  every  town,  shall  devolve 
upon  the  superintending  school  committee  which  shall  annu- 
ally, and  as  often  as  a  vacancy  shall  occur,  elect  a  superin- 
tendent of  schools  who  shall  not  be  a  member  of  the 
committee,  and,  after  the  first  day  of  July,  nineteen  hundred 
sixteen,  no  person  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  superin- 
tendent of  schools  under  the  provisions  of  this  section  unless 
he  shall  hold  a  teacher's  state  certificate,  or  a  state  certificate 
of  superintendence  grade.  After  due  notice  and  investigation, 
the  superintending  school  committee  may  for  cause  discharge 
a  superintendent  of  schools  and  after  protracted  absence 
from  duty  on  the  part  of  said  superintendent,  may  declare 
a  vacancy  in  his  office.  This  section,  so  far  as  it  relates  to 
the  manner  of  the  election  or  employment  of  superintendents 
of  schools  shall  not  apply  to  cities,  nor  to  towns  authorized 
by  special  laws  to  employ  or  choose  superintendents  in  man- 
ner otherwise  than  is  herein  provided. 

100  Me.  i:;<>. 

Sec.  38.  Duties.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  35.  1905,  c.  48,  §  5.  1919, 
c.  137.  Superintending  school  committees  shall  perform  the 
following  duties : 

I.  Direct  the  general  course  of  instruction  and  approve  a 
uniform  system  of  textbooks;  no  textbook  thus  approved 


SCHOOL  LAWS   OF   MAINE. 

shall  be  changed  for  three  years  unless  by  vote  of  the  com- 
mittee;  and  perform  such  other  functions  as  may  be  specified 
by  law. 

II.  They  shall  make  provision  for  the  instruction  of  all 
pupils  in  schools,  supported  by  public  money  or  under  state 
control,  in  physiology  and  hygiene,  with  special  reference  to 
the  effects  of  alcoholic  drinks,  stimulants  and  narcotics  upon 
the  human  system. 

III.  After  due  notice   and  investigation,   they   shall   dis- 
miss any  teacher,  although  having  the  requisite  certificate, 
who  proves  unfit  to  teach,  or  whose  services  they  deem  un- 
profitable to  the  school ;  and  give  to  said  teacher  a  certificate 
of  dismissal  and  of  the  reasons  therefor,  a  copy  of  which 
they  shall  retain,  and  such  dismissal   shall  not  deprive  the 
teacher  of  compensation  for  previous  services. 

3  Me.  453  ;     16  Me.  185. 

IV.  Expel    any    obstinately    disobedient    and    disorderly 
scholar,  after  a  proper  investigation  of  his  behavior,  if  found 
necessary  for  the  peace  and  usefulness  of  the  school ;  and 
restore  him  on  satisfactory  evidence  of  his  repentance  and 
amendment. 

38  Me.  391. 

Y.  Exclude,  if  they  deem  it  expedient,  any  person  not 
vaccinated,  although  otherwise  entitled  to  admission. 

VI.  Prescribe  the  sum,  on  payment  of  which  persons  of 
the   required  age,   resident  on   territory,   the  jurisdiction   of 
which  has  been  ceded  to  the  United  States,  included  in  or 
surrounded  by  the  town  may  attend  school  in  the  town. 

See  c.  2,  §  §  1,  5.  6. 

VII.  Determine  what  description  of  scholars  shall  attend 
each  school,  classify  them,  and  transfer  them  from  school  to 
school  where  more  than  one  school  is  kept  at  the  same  time. 

Sec.  39.  Secret  societies  prohibited.  1913,  c.  34.  No  pupil 
of  any  public,  elementary  or  secondary  school  shall  partici- 
pate in  or  be  a  member  of  any  secret  fraternity  or  secret 
society  whatsoever  that  is  in  any  degree  a  school  organiza- 
tion. Superintending  school  committees  shall  enforce  the 
provisions  of  this  section  and  may  expel  or  otherwise  dis- 
cipline any  pupil  for  failure  or  refusal  to  comply  with  its 
provisions. 

Sec.  40.  School  physicians  appointed.  1909,  c.  73,  §  1. 
The  superintending  school  committee  of  every  city  and  town 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE.  19 

shall  appoint  one  or  more  school  physicians  and  shall  assign 
one  to  the  medical  inspection  of  not  over  one  thousand  pupils 
of  the  public  schools  within  its  city  or  town,  and  shall  pro- 
vide them  with  all  proper  facilities  for  the  performance  of 
their  duties  as  hereinafter  prescribed;  provided,  however, 
that  the  said  committee  has  been  so  authorized  by  vote  of 
the  town  at  a  regular  town  meeting  or  at  a  special  town 
meeting  called  for  that  purpose. 

Sec.  41.  Duties  of  physicians.  1909,  c.  73,  §  2.  Every 
school  physician  shall  make  a  prompt  examination  and  diag- 
nosis of  all  children  referred  to  him  as  hereinafter  provided, 
and  such  further  examination  of  teachers,  janitors  and  school 
buildings  as  in  his  opinion  the  protection  of  the  health  of  the 
pupils  may  require. 

Sec.  42.  Treatment  of  pupils.  1909,  c.  73,  §  3.  The  pupils 
so  examined  by  school  physicians,  when  treatment  is  neces- 
sary, shall  not  be  referred  to  any  school  physician  for  such 
treatment  unless  such  school  physician  is  the  regular  family 
physician  of  such  pupil ;  but  shall  be  referred  to  the  regular 
family  physician  of  such  pupil  through  the  parents  or 
guardian. 

Sec.  43.  Examination  of  pupils  after  absence  on  account 
of  sickness.  1909,  c.  73,  §  4.  1915,  c.  174.  The  superintend- 
ing school  committee  shall  cause  to  be  referred  to  a  school 
physician  for  examination  and  diagnosis  every  child  return- 
ing to  a  school  without  a  certificate  from  the  board  of  health 
or  family  physician  after  absence  on  account  of  illness  or 
whenever  in  the  judgment  of  the  teacher  the  circumstances 
of  the  absence  were  such  as  to  require  such  a  certificate,  and 
every  child  in  the  schools  under  its  jurisdiction  who  shows 
signs  of  being  in  ill  health  or  of  suffering  from  infectious  or 
contagious  diseases,  unless  he  is  at  once  excluded  from  school 
by  the  teacher;  except  that  in  case  of  schools  in  remote  and 
isolated  situations,  the  school  committee  may  make  such 
other  arrangements  as  may  best  carry  out  the  purposes  of 
sections  forty  to  forty-seven,  both  inclusive. 

Sec.  44.  Notice  of  disease  or  defects.  1909,  c.  73,  §  5. 
The  superintending  school  committee  shall  cause  notice  of 
disease  or  defects,  if  any,  from  which  any  child  is  found  to  be 
suffering,  to  be  sent  to  his  parents  or  guardians.  Whenever 
a  child  shows  symptoms  of  smallpox,  scarlet  fever,  measles, 
chicken  pox,  tuberculosis,  diphtheria  or  influenza,  tonsilitis, 


20  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

whooping  cough,  mumps,  scabies  or  trachoma,  he  shall  be 
sent  home  immediately  or  as  soon  as  safe  and  proper  con- 
veyance can  be  found,  and  the  board  of  health  and  superin- 
tendent of  schools  shall  at  once  be  notified. 

See  c.  19,  §  §  10,  50-63. 

Sec.  45.  Examination  of  sight  and  hearing;  notice  of  de- 
fect or  disability  to  parent  or  guardian.  1909,  c.  73,  §  6.  The 

superintending  school  committee  of  every  city  or  town  shall 
cause  every  child  in  the  public  schools  to  be  separately  and 
carefully  tested  and  examined  at  least  once  in  every  school 
year  to  ascertain  whether  he  is  suffering  from  defective  sight, 
or  hearing,  or  from  any  other  disability  or  defect  tending  to 
prevent  his  receiving  the  full  benefit  of  his  school  work,  or 
requiring  a  modification  of  the  school  work  in  order  to  pre- 
vent injury  to  the  child  or  to  secure  the  best  educational 
results.  Tests  of  sight  and  hearing  shall  be  made  by  the 
teachers  or  by  the  school  physicians.  The  committee  shall 
cause  notice  of  any  defect  or  disability  requiring  treatment 
to  be  sent  to  the  parent  or  guardian  of  the  child,  and  shall 
require  a  physical  record  of  each  child  to  be  kept  in  such  form 
as  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  shall  prescribe 
after  consultation  with  the  state  board  of  health. 

Sec.  46.  State  superintendent  of  schools  shall  prescribe 
directions  for  tests.  1909,  c.  73,  §  7.  The  state  superintend- 
ent of  public  schools  shall  prescribe,  after  consultation  with 
the  state  board  of  health,  the  directions  for  tests  of  sight  and 
hearing,  and  shall  prescribe  and  furnish  to  the  school  com- 
mittees suitable  rules  of  instruction,  test  cards,  blanks, 
record  books  and  other  useful  appliances  for  carrying  out  the 
purposes  of  the  six  preceding  sections. 

Sec.  47.  Expense  that  may  be  incurred  by  city  or  town. 
1909,  c.  73,  §  8.  Expenses  which  a  city  or  town  may  incur 
by  virtue  of  the  authority  herein  vested  in  the  superintend- 
ing school  committee  shall  not  exceed  the  amount  appro- 
priated for  that  purpose  in  cities  by  the  city  council  and  in 
towns  by  a  town  meeting.  The  appropriations  shall  precede 
any  expenditure  under  the  seven  preceding  sections,  and  the 
sum  appropriated  shall  be  deemed  sufficient  appropriation 
in  the  municipality  where  it  is  made.  Such  appropriation 
need  not  specify  to  what  section  it  shall  apply  and  may  be 
voted  as  a  total  appropriation  to  be  applied  in  carrying  out 
the  purposes  of  said  sections. 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE.  21 

Sec.  48.     Application  of  §§  40  to  47.     1909,  c.  73,  §  9.     The 

provisions  of  the  eight  preceding  sections  shall  apply  only  to 
cities  and  towns  having  a  population  of  less  than  forty  thou- 
sand inhabitants. 

Sec.  49.  Superintendent;  his  duties.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §§  36, 
39.  1905,  c.  48,  §  6.  1913,  c.  112;  c.  58,  §  5.  1919,  c.  83. 
The  superintendent  of  schools  in  every  town  shall  return  un- 
der oath  to  the  school  committee,  in  April  annually,  a  certified 
list  of  the  names  and  ages  of  all  persons  in  the  town  from  five 
to  twenty-one  years,  corrected  to  the  first  day  of  said  month, 
leaving  out  of  said  enumeration  all  persons  coming  from 
other  places  to  attend  any  college  or  academy,  or  to  labor  in 
any  factory,  or  at  any  manufacturing  or  other  business. 

Sec.  50.  Return  to  state  superintendent  of  schools.  R.  S. 
c.  15,  §  37.  1911,  c.  121.  He  shall  annually"  make  returns  to 
the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  of  the  number  of 
persons  between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty-one  years,  to- 
gether with  a  certified  list  of  the  names  and  ages  of  such 
persons,  corrected  to  the  first  day  of  April  preceding  the  time 
of  making  such  returns,  and  give  full  and  complete  answers 
to  the  inquiries  contained  in  the  blank  forms  furnished  him 
by  law;  certify  that  such  statement  is  true  and  correct,  ac- 
cording to  his  best  knowledge  and  belief;  and  transmit  it  to 
the  office  of  the  state  superintendent  on  or  before  the  first 
day  of  each  May.  He  shall  also  furnish  such  other  informa- 
tion relating  to  the  public  schools  as  the  state  superintendent 
shall  at  any  time  require  of  him.  When  the  state  superin- 
tendent of  public  schools  on  examination  of  the  census  re- 
turns of  any  town  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  census  has  been 
inaccurately  taken,  he  shall  make  a  statement  thereof  to  the 
governor  and  council  who  may  require  the  census  of  such 
town  to  be  retaken  and  returned  and,  if  they  think  necessary, 
they  may  for  this  purpose  appoint  persons  to  perform  this 
service;  and  such  persons  so  appointed  shall  take  the  same 
oath,  perform  the  same  service  and  receive  the  same  com- 
pensation out  of  the  same  funds  as  the  person  or  persons 
who  took  the  school  census  in  the  first  instance ;  and  the 
school  fund  distributable  in  proportion  to  enumeration  of 
scholars  shall  be  distributed  on  the  corrected  returns. 

Sec.  51.  Annual  return  of  statistics.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  38. 
1905,  c.  48,  §  7.  1913,  c.  4.  He  shall,  on  or  before  the  first 
day  of  August,  annually,  make  under  oath  a  full  and  com- 


22  SCHOOL   LAWS    OF  MAINE. 

plete  return  of  all  educational  statistics  for  the  year  ending 
the  first  day  of  July  next  preceding,  and  any  town  that  shall 
fail,  through  its  school  officers,  to  make  the  return  required 
by  this  section  shall  be  liable  to  the  provisions  of  section 
nineteen  of  this  chapter. 

Sec.  52.  Flags  to  be  furnished  schools.  1907,  c.  182.  1915, 
c.  176.  Superintendents  of  schools  shall  see  that  the  flag  is 
displayed  from  the  public  school  buildings  on  appropriate  oc- 
casions. They  shall  report  annually  to  the  towns  the  amount 
necessary  to  furnish  the  public  schools  with  suitable  flags 
and  flagstaff's  and  towns  shall  annually  appropriate  a  sufficient 
amount  to  defray  the  necessary  cost  of  the  display  of  the 
flag.  The  appropriation  for  this  purpose  shall  be  separate 
from  and  additional  to  all  other  appropriations  for  schools. 
It  shall  be  the  duty  of  instructors  to  impress  upon  the  youth 
by  suitable  references  and  observances  the  significance  of 
the  flag,  to  teach  them  the  cost,  the  object  and  principles  of 
our  government,  the  great  sacrifices  of  our  forefathers,  the 
important  part  taken  by  the  Union  Army  in  the  Avar  of 
eighteen  hundred  sixty-one  to  eighteen  hundred  sixty-five. 
and  to  teach  them  to  love,  honor  and  respect  the  flag  of  our 
country  that  cost  so  much  and  is  so  dear  to  every  true  Amer- 
ican citizen. 

See  c.  1,  §  6,  ff  xix. 

Sec.  53.  Exclusion  of  pupils  from  school  on  account  of 
filth  or  disease ;  notice  to  parents.  1909,  c.  31,  §  1.  When  a 
teacher  becomes  aware  or  suspects  that  any  of  the  pupils 
attending  his  school  are  in  a  condition  which  renders  them  a 
source  of  offense  or  danger  to  the  other  pupils  in  school  on 
account  of  filthiness,  or  because  they  are  the  bearers  of  ver- 
min or  parasites,  or  have  an  infectious  or  contagious  disease 
of  the  skin,  mouth  or  eyes,  he  shall  notify  the  superintendent 
of  schools.  When  a  superintendent  of  schools  knows  or 
learns  that  any  of  the  pupils  attending  any  school  within  his 
jurisdiction,  are  affected  with  any  of  the  conditions,  infec- 
tions, or  diseases  herein  mentioned,  he  shall  notify  the  par- 
ents to  cleanse  the  clothing  and  the  bodies  of  the  children  and 
to  furnish  them  with  the  required  home  or  medical  treatment, 
for  the  relief  of  their  trouble,  and  he  may,  when  he  deems  it 
necessary,  exclude  such  children  from  the  schools  temporarily 
or  until  they  may  be  cured,  cleansed  and  disinfected. 


SCHOOL  LAWS   OF   MAINE.  23 

Sec.  54.  Duty  of  parents;  penalty  for  neglect.  1909,  c.  31, 
§  2.  Parents  thus  notified  of  the  condition  of  their  children 
shall  forthwith  have  them  and  their  clothing-  cleansed  and 
shall  promptly  do  what  is  necessary,  or  furnish  them  such 
medical  treatment  as  may  be  required,  to  rid  the  children  of 
vermin,  parasites,  or  contagion;  any  parent  who  fails  to  do 
what  is  required  so  that  the  children  may  return  to  school 
with  as  little  loss  of  time  as  is  possible,  shall  be  punished  by 
a  fine  not  to  exceed  five  dollars  for  the  first  offense,  and  not 
to  exceed  ten  dollars  for  a  second  or  subsequent  offense. 

See  c.  19,  §§  50-63. 
Superintendence  of  Schools  Through  the  Union  of  Towns. 

Sec.  55.  I.  All  towns  to  be  combined  by  state  superin- 
tendent for  purposes  of  supervision,  on  or  before  Jan.  1,  1918. 
Aggrieved  school  committees  may  appeal  to  governor  and 
council.  R.  S.  c.'  16,  §  55.  1917,  c.  188,  §  1.  It  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  on  or  be- 
fore the  first  day  of  January,  nineteen  hundred  eighteen,  to 
combine  all  the  towns  of  the  state,  except  as  herein  provided, 
into  unions  for  the  purpose  of  employing  superintendents  of 
schools.  Such  supervisory  unions  as  shall  have  been  formed 
prior  to  said  date  may  be  dissolved  by  the  state  superintend- 
ent of  public  schools  for  the  purpose  of  more  advantageous 
combinations.  Provided,  however,  that  any  superintending 
school  committee  of  a  town  dissatisfied  with  the  combination 
proposed  by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  to 
include  that  town  may  appeal  to  the  governor  and  council 
who  shall  make  the  final  decision  relative  thereto.  The 
unions  formed  under  the  provisions  of  this  act  shall  be  ef- 
fective July  first,  nineteen  hundred  eighteen.  Whenever, 
upon  the  representation  of  the  superintending  school  com- 
mittee of  any  town,  it  shall  appear  to  the  state  superintendent 
of  public  schools  to  be  to  the  advantage  of  said  town  and  of 
the  state  to  change  the  combination  of  towns  composing  the 
union  of  which  said  town  is  a  part,  the  said  stale  superin- 
tendent of  public  schools,  shall  have  authority  to  direct  the 
dissolution  and  organization  of  unions  so  that  a  more  advan- 
tageous combination  may  be  effected.  Provided,  however, 
that  any  superintending  school  committee  of  a  town  dissutu- 
fied  with  the  combination  proposed  by  the  state  superin- 
tendent of  public  schools  to  include  that  town  may  appeal  to 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF   MAINE. 

the  governor  and  council  who  shall  make  the  final  decision 
relative  thereto. 

II.  Union  to  include  not  less  than  thirty  nor  more  than 
fifty  schools;  proviso.  Any  school  supervisory  union  formed 
under  the  provisions  of  this  section  shall  include  not  less 
than  thirty  nor  more  than  fifty  schools  unless  the  state  super- 
intendent of  public  schools  shall  find'  upon  representation  of 
any  school  committee  that  owing  to  geographical  situation 
or  other  reasons  it  is  to  the  advantage  of  the  state  and  of 
said  towns  that  a  union  shall  include  fewer  than  thirtv  or 
more  than  -fifty  schools. 

Sec.  56.  First  meeting  to  be  held  upon  notification  of 
state  superintendent;  subsequent  meetings.  Union  superin- 
tendent removed  for  cause.  Salary,  tenure  of  office,  etc.  R. 
S.  c.  16,  §  56.  1917,  c.  188,  §  2.  The  superintending  school 
committee  of  the  towns  composing  a  union  shall  form  a  joint 
committee,  and  for  the  purposes  of  this  section  and  the  four 
following  sections,  said  joint  committee  shall  be  held  to  be 
the  agents  of  each  town  composing  the  union,  provided,  how- 
ever, that  the  superintending  school  committee  of  any  town 
may  authorize  one  of  its  members  to  act  for  the  committee 
in  the  meetings  of  the  joint  committee,  and  in  such  case,  the 
member  so  authorized,  may  cast  the  votes  for  the  full  mem- 
bership of  his  committee.  Said  joint  committee  upon  noti- 
fication by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  shall 
meet  before  the  first  day  of  July,  nineteen  hundred  eighteen, 
and  in  June  annually  thereafter,  at  a  day  and  place  agreed 
upon  by  the  chairman  of  the  committees  of  the  several  towns 
composing  the  union,  and  shall  organize  by  the  choice  of  a 
chairman  and  a  secretary.  Said  joint  committee  shall  de- 
termine the  relative  amount  of  service  to  be  performed  by 
the  superintendent  in  each  town,  including  the  minimum 
number  of  visits  to  be  made  each  term  to  each  school,  fix  his 
salary,  apportion  the  amounts  thereof  to  be  paid  by  the  sev- 
eral towns,  which  amounts  shall  be  certified  to  the  treasurers 
of  said  towns,  respectively,  and  to  the  state  superintendent 
of  public  schools,  together  with  the  amounts  apportioned  to 
each  town,  provided,  that  the  amount  so  certified  shall  be 
in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  service  performed  in  the  sev- 
eral towns.  Said  joint  committee,  at  the  time  of  its  organi- 
zation, or  as  soon  thereafter  as  possible,  and  whenever  a 
vacancy  shall  occur,  shall  choose  by  ballot  a  superintendent 


SCHOOL   LAWS  OF   MAINE  25 

of  schools  for  a  term  of  not  less  than  one  year  nor  more 
than  five  years,  provided,  however,  that  said  committee,  by 
a  two-thirds  vote  of  its  full  membership,  after  due  notice  and 
investigation,  may,  for  cause,  discharge  a  superintendent  of 
schools  before  the  expiration  of  the  term  for  which  he  was 
elected,  and  after  such  discharge  the  salary  of  said  superin- 
tendent shall  cease. 

Sec.  57.  I.  Return  to  be  made  on  or  before  Aug.  1,  1918, 
and  annually  thereafter.  Union  superintendents  to  be  paid 
out  of  sum  specifically  appropriated  for  that  purpose.  Super- 
intendents may  be  reimbursed  for  expenses.  R.  S.  c.  16, 
§  57.  1917,  c.  188,  §  3.  1919,  c.  18.  The  chairman  and 
secretary  of  said  joint  committee  shall,  upon  the  election  of  a 
superintendent  of  schools  as  provided  by  the  preceding  sec- 
tion, certify  under  oath  to  the  state  superintendent  of  public 
schools,  upon  the  forms  prescribed  by  him,  all  facts  relative 
ty  said  union  and  employment  of  a  superintendent.  On  or 
before  the  first  day  of  August,  nineteen  hundred  eighteen, 
and  annually  thereafter,  and  whenever  a  new  superintendent 
is  chosen  said  chairman  and  secretary  shall  make  return  of 
a  similar  certificate.  Upon  approval  of  said  certificate  the 
superintendent  so  employed  shall,  on  presentation  of  proper 
vouchers,  receive  monthly  out  of  the  sum  appropriated  for 
superintendence  of  towns  composing  school  unions  a  sum 
equal  to  twice  the  aggregate  sum  paid  by  the  towns  compos- 
ing the  union,  provided,  that  the  amount  so  paid  for  the 
benefit  of  a  single  union  of  towns  shall  not  exceed  eight  hun- 
dred dollars  in  one  year,  and  prdvided  further,  that  the  annual 
appropriation  for  payments  hereunder  shall  be  deducted  from 
state  school  funds.  The  state  superintendent  of  public 
schools  annually  shall  cause  an  investigation  to  be  made  of 
the  conditions  of  supervision  in  unions  of  towns,  including 
the  relative  financial  support  for  supervision  by  towns,  the 
relative  distances  required  to  be  traveled  and  the  relative 
amounts  of  expenses  to  be  paid  by  superintendents  of  schools 
directly  in  connection  with  the  supervision  and  administra- 
tion of  schools  in  unions  of  towns.  When  it  appears  to  the 
state  superintendent  of  public  schools  that  the  efficiency  of 
supervision  in  any  union  is  or  may  be  lessened  because  of 
the  financial  burden  to  towns,  expenses  for  travel  and  other 
purposes  required  to  be  paid  by  the  superintendent  of  such 
union  because  of  the  number  and  location  of  schools,  geo- 


26  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

graphical  or  other  conditions,  said  state  superintendent  of 
schools,  annually  in  August,  shall  issue  to  the  governor  and 
council  a  recommendation  relative  thereto  and  the  governor 
and  council,  on  the  approval  of  said  recommendation,  may 
draw  a  warrant  for  payment  out  of  the  sum  appropriated  for 
superintendence  of  towns  composing  school  unions  in  favor 
of  the  superintendent  or  superintendents  of  schools  em- 
ployed in  said  union  within  the  school  year  ending  June 
thirtieth  immediately  preceding,  provided,  however,  that  the 
amount  so  paid  for  the  benefit  of  a  single  union  shall  not  ex- 
ceed three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  annually  and  shall  be  in 
addition  to  other  payments  made  to  said  superintendent  as 
provided  in  this  section  and  provided  further  that  the  amount 
so  available  for  the  equalization  of  such  expenses  shall  not 
exceed  one-fifth  of  the  appropriation  for  superintendence  of 
towns  composing  school  unions. 

II.  Towns  and  cities  having  fifty  schools  or  over  need  not 
unite.  Return  to  be  made  annually  in  December.  Like  reg- 
ulations to  be  observed  as  in  union.  R.  S.  c.  16,  §  57.  1917, 
c.  188,  §  4.  The  superintending  school  committee  of  a  city  or 
town  having  under  its  care  and  custody  an  aggregate  of  more 
than  fifty  schools  may  employ  a  superintendent  of  schools 
without  uniting  with  other  cities  or  towns  for  the  purpose. 
Said  superintendent  of  schools  shall  be  chosen  in  the  same 
manner  and  for  the  same  term  and  may  be  discharged  under 
the  same  conditions  as  superintendents  employed  under  the 
provisions  of  section  fifty-six.  Annually,  in  the  month  of 
December,  the  chairman  and  secretary  of  said  committee 
shall  certify  to  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools, 
upon  forms  prescribed  by  him,  all  facts  relative  to  the  em- 
ployment of  a  superintendent  including  the  amount  of  his 
salary  received,  then  upon  the  approval  of  said  certificate 
by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  and  presenta- 
tion to  the  governor  and  council,  a  warrant  shall  be  drawn 
upon  the  treasurer  of  state  for  the  payment  to  the  treasurer 
of  that  town  or  city,  of  a  sum  equal  to  two-thirds  the  amount 
expended  by  said  town  or  city  for  said  superintendence,  pro- 
vided that  the  amount  so  paid  for  the  benefit  of  a  single  town 
or  city  shall  not  be  at  a  rate  exceeding  eight  hundred  dollars 
for  one  year. 

Sec.  58.  I.  Salary  may  be  paid  from  appropriation  for 
salary  of  town  officers,  not  to  be  paid  from  school  appropria- 


SCHOOL  LAWS   OF  MAINE.  27 

tion.  R.  S.'c.  16,  §  58.  1917,  c.  188,  §  5.  Towns  shall  appro- 
priate for  the  salary  of  the  superintendent  of  schools  their 
proportion  of  the  sum  paid  said  superintendent  to  the  amount 
certified  by  the  joint  committee  to  the  town  treasurer,  and 
said  proportion  to  be  paid  by  any  town  may  be  paid  out  of 
an  appropriation  for  the  salaries  of  town  officers  or  out  of  a 
sp.ecial  appropriation  for  the  purpose  or  out  of  both,  but  it 
shall  not  be  paid  from  any  appropriation  made  for  the  sup- 
port or  maintenance  of  common  schools  or  high  schools. 

II.  Conference  of  instruction  shall  be  held.  The  state 
superintendent  of  public  schools  shall  annually  hold  a  con- 
ference for  the  instruction  of  superintendents  serving  under 
the  provisions  of  the  three  preceding  sections;  he  may  ex- 
pend not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars  out  of  the  appropri- 
ation for  the  superintendence  of  towns  composing  school 
unions,  to  assist  in  defraying  the  mileage  expenses  of  those 
superintendents  who  live  remote  from  the  place  of  such  con- 
ference ;  but  no  superintendent  shall  be  entitled  to  any  part  of 
such  expenses  unless  he  shall  regularly  attend  all  sessions 
of  such  conference. 

Sec.  59.  I.  State  superintendent  to  make  regulations 
under  which  certificates  shall  be  issued.  R.  S.  c.  16,  §  59. 
1917,  c.  188,  §  6.  Persons  employed  to  serve  as  superintend- 
ents of  schools  under  section  fifty-six  and  section  fifty-seven 
shall  hold  state  certificates  of  superintendence  grade  which 
shall  be  issued  under  such  regulations  as  may  be  prescribed 
by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools ;  they  shall  de- 
vote their  entire  time  to  superintendence  in  the  towns  com- 
posing the  union;  provided,  however,  that  they  may,  without 
violation  of  the  provisions  of  this  section,  perform  such  edu- 
cational service  outside  of  the  towns  of  their  unions  as  may 
be  performed  Avith  the  approval  of  the  state  superintendent 
of  public  schools  and  with  the  consent  of  the  committees 
employing  them. 

II.  Powers  and. duties  enumerated.  R.  S.  c.  16,  §  59. 
1917,  c.  188,  §  7.  A  superintendent  of  schools  employed  un- 
der the  provisions  of  sections  fifty-six  and  fifty-seven  shall 
have  the  following  powers  and  duties : 

(a)  Secretary  ex-officio.  He  shall  be  ex-officio,  secretary 
of  the  superintending  school  committee,  and  shall  per/orm 
such  duties  not  herein  enumerated  as  said  committee  shall 
direct. 


28  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

(b)  Auditor;   vouchers   to   be   approved   by   majority   of 
board.     He  shall  keep  a  permanent  record  of  all  its   votes, 
orders   and   proceedings;   he   shall   place   all   orders   for   ma- 
terials and  supplies  purchased  by  vote  of  the  committee  and 
shall   be   its  agent   in   keeping  all   financial   records   and   ac- 
counts.    He  shall  issue  vouchers  showing  the  correctness  of 
bills  contracted  on  account  of  school  appropriations,  but  such 
bills  shall  not  be  allowed  for  payment  by  the  municipal  offi- 
cers of  towns  unless  they   shall  have  been   approved   bv   a 
majority  of  the  members  of  the  superintending  school  com- 
mittee. 

(c)  Shall    visit    the    schools;    annual    report.     He    shall 
examine   the   schools   and   inquire   into   the    regulations   and 
discipline  thereof,  and  the  proficiency  of  the  pupils,  for  which 
purposes   he   shall  visit   each    school   at   least   the   minimum 
number  of  times  each  term  which  the  joint  committee  may 
designate.     At  the  annual  town  meeting,   he  shall   make  a 
written  report  of  the  condition  of  the  schools  for  the  past 
year,  with  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  school  buildings, 
the  proficiency  made  by  the  pupils,  and  the  success  attend- 
ing the  modes  of  instruction  and  government  thereof,  and 
transmit  a  copy  to  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools. 

(d)  Shall  keep  account  of  finances  and  report  once  a  term 
to  committee  of  respective  towns.     He  shall  keep  a  faithful 
and  accurate  account  of  school  finances  and  he  shall  report 
at  least  once  a  term  in  writing  to  each  of  the  several  commit- 
tees  of  the   supervisory   union,   including   in    such    report   a 
statement  of  the  condition  of  the  schools,  a  financial  state- 
ment, and  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  school  buildings 
and    outbuildings   in   the   matter   of   repair,    cleanliness    and 
sanitary  arrangements. 

(e)  Shall  nominate  teachers;  election  to  be  approved  by 
committee.     He  shall  nominate  all  teachers  subject  to  such 
regulations  governing  salaries  and  the  qualifications  of  teach- 
ers as  the  superintending  school  committee  shall  make,  and 
upon  the  approval  of  nominations  by  said  committee  he  may 
employ  teachers  so  nominated  and  approved. 

(f)  Shall   supervise   work   of   teachers.     He    shall   direct 
and  supervise  the  work  of  all  teachers. 

(g)  Shall  select  and  purchase  textbooks  on  approval  of 
committee.     He  shall  select  textbooks,  supplies  and  appara- 
tus subject  to  the  approval  of  the  superintending  school  com- 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF   MAI     ,  29 

miller  and  sli;ill  make  all  purchases  of  the  same  under  n<li 
regulations  as  tlie  superintending  School  committee  -hall 
adopt . 

(h)  Shall  distribute  and  account  for  supplies,  lie  -hall 
gee  to  it  that  all  necessary  apparatus  and  mpplicfl  are  sea- 
sonably distributed  to  each  school  and  accurately  accounted 
for  and  economically  used. 

(i)  Shall  enforce  rules  of  committee.  He  shall  enforce 
or  caiiM-  to  be  enforced  all  regulation-  <,f  the  superintending 
•-cliool  committee. 

Sec.  60.  Appropriation  exclusive  of  amount  required  for 
common  school  purposes ;  forfeiture  for  violation.  R.  S.  c. 
15,  §  45.  1905,  c.  48,  §  8.  1909,  c.  122,  §  4.  No  town  shall 
\e  state  aid  under  section  fifty-seven  unless  its  appro- 
priation and  expenditure  for  superintendence  have  been 
exclusive  of  the  amount  required  by  law  for  common  school 
purposes.  If  any  part  of  the  money  raised  by  the  towns  or 
union  of  towns,  or  paid  to  them  by  the  state  for  superintend- 
ence, is  expended  for  any  other  purposes  than  those 
provided  for  in  said  section,  then  each  person  so  misappro- 
priating said  money  shall  forfeit  double  the  sum  so  mis- 
applied, to  be  recovered  in  an  action  of  debt  in  the  name  and 
to  the  use  of  the  town,  by  any  inhabitant  thereof;  and  no 
town  or  union  of  towns  shall  receive  further  aid  under  said 
section  until  the  amount  so  misapplied  has  been  raised  and 
nded  for  superintendence  by  such  town  or  union  of 
towns. 

Sec.  61.  Provisions  made  applicable  to  remote  towns. 
State  superintendent  may  take  initiative  in  appointing  agent 
to  act  as  superintendent.  R.  S.  c.  16,  §  61.  1917,  c.  188,  §  8. 
Whenever  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  shall 
find  on  investigation  that  any  town  or  plantation  is  so  sit- 
uated that  it  is  not  practicable  to  form  a  union  in  accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  sections  fifty-five  to  sixty,  inclusive, 
he  may  place  at  the  service  of  the  committee  of  such  town 
or  plantation  the  general  agent  for  the- schooling  of  the  chil- 
dren in  unorganized  township-,  or  any  other  agent  of  the 
state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  who  shall,  when  so 
/ned,  serve  as  the  superintendent  of  schools  of  said  town 
or  plantation ;  when  the  said  agent  shall  so  serve  he  shall  have 
ame  powers  and  shall  perform  the  same  service  as  super- 
intendent of  school-  of  towns;  provided,  however,  that  his 


30  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

visits  to  the  schools  of  said  town  or  plantation  shall  be  at 
such  intervals  as  may  be  directed  by  the  state  superintend- 
ent of  public  schools. 

Sec.  62.  Reimbursements  to  be  added  to  appropriation 
for  union  school  superintendents ;  may  be  used  for  traveling 
expenses  of  agents.  R.  S.  c.  16,  §  62.  1917,  c.  188,  §  9. 
Whenever  the  schools  of  any  town  or  plantation  shall  be 
placed  under  the  supervision  of  agents  of  the  state  superin- 
tendent of  public  schools  as  provided  by  the  preceding  sec- 
tion the  treasurer  of  said  town  or  plantation  shall  pay  to  the 
treasurer  of  state  a  sum  which  shall  be  at  the  rate  of  twenty- 
five  dollars  annually  for  each  of  the  schools  of  said  town  or 
plantation  and  the  amount  so  received  by  the  treasurer  of 
state  shall  be  added  by  him  to  the  appropriation  for  the  super- 
intendence of  towns  composing  school  unions  and  may  be 
used  for  defraying  the  traveling  expenses  of  agents  so  em- 
ployed. 

Compulsory  Education. 

Sec.  63.  Towns  may  make  by-laws  concerning  truants; 
approval.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  46.  Towns  may  make  such  by-laws, 
not  repugnant  to  law,  concerning  habitual  truants,  and  chil- 
dren between  six  and  seventeen  years  of  age  not  attending 
school,  without  any  regular  and  lawful  occupation,  and  grow- 
ing up  in  ignorance,  as  are  most  conducive  to  their  welfare 
and  the  good  order  of  society ;  and  may  annex  a  suitable 
penalty,  not  exceeding  twenty  dollars,  for  any  breach  there- 
of; but  such  by-laws  must  be  first  approved  by  a  judge  of  the 
supreme  judicial  court. 

See  c.  4.  §  98,  fl  1. 

Sec.  64.  Violation  of  by-laws.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  47.  Attend- 
ance officers  elected  as  provided  in  section  sixty-eight  shall 
alone  make  complaints  for  violations  of  said  by-laws,  and 
shall  execute  the  judgments  of  the  magistrate. 

65  Me.  130.  j 

Sec.  65.  Truant  children  may  be  placed  in  suitable  insti- 
tutions. R.  S.  c.  15,  §  48.  Said  magistrate,  in  place  of  fine, 
may  order  children  proved  to  be  growing  up  in  truancy,  and 
without  the  benefit  of  the  education  provided  for  them  by 
law,  to  be  placed  for  such  periods  as  he  thinks  expedient,  in 
the  institution  of  instruction,  house  of  reformation,  or  other 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE.  31 

litable    situation   provided   for   the   purpose   under   section 

:ty-three. 

Sec.  66.  Children  between  certain  ages  required  to  attend 
school  unless  excused  or  excluded  by  committee;  penalty 
for  neglect.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  49.  1905,  c.  48,  §  9.  1909,  c.  57. 
1919,  c.  122.  Every  child  between  the  seventh  and  fifteenth 
anniversaries  of  his  birth  and  every  child  between  the  fif- 
teenth and  seventeenth  anniversaries  who  cannot  read  at 
sight  and  write  legibly  simple  sentences  in  the  English  lan- 
guage, shall  attend  some  public  day  school  during  the  time 
such  school  is  in  session,  and  an  absence  therefrom  of  one- 
half  day  or  more  shall  be  deemed  a  violation  of  this  require- 
ment; provided,  that  necessary  absence  may  be  excused  by 
the  superintending  school  committee  or  superintendent  of 
schools  or  teachers  acting  by  the  direction  of  either;  pro- 
vided, also,  that  such  attendance  shall  not  be  required  if  the 
child  obtained  equivalent  instruction,  for  a  like  period  of  time, 
in  a  private  school  in  which  the  course  of  study  and  methods 
of  instruction  have  been  approved  by  the  state  superintendent 
of  public  schools,  or  in  any  other  manner  arranged  for  by  the 
superintending  school  committee  with  the  approval  of  the 
state  superintendent  of  public  schools;  provided,  further,  that 
children  shall  not  be  credited  with  attendance  at  a  private 
school  until  a  certificate  showing  their  names,  residence  and 
attendance  at  such  school  signed  by  the  person  or  persons 
having  such  school  in  charge,  shall  be  filed  with  the  school 
officials  of  the  town  in  which  said  children  reside;  and  pro- 
vided, further,  that  the  superintending  school  committee  may 
exclude  from  the  public  schools  any  child  whose  physical  or 
mental  condition  makes  it  inexpedient  for  him  to  attend. 
All  persons  having  children  under  their  control  shall  cause 
them  to  attend  school  as  provided  in  this  section,  and  for 
every  neglect  of  such  duty  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  not 
exceeding  twenty-five  dollars  or  shall  be  imprisoned  not  ex- 
ceeding thirty  days. 

See  c.  49,  §  21. 

Sec.  67.  Children  may  be  allowed  to  attend  school  in  ad- 
joining town,  on  terms  agreed  upon;  tuition.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  50. 
Children  living  remote  from  any  public  school  in  the  town 
in  which  they  reside  may  be  allowed  to  attend  the  public 
schools,  other  than  a  high  school  approved  as  provided  in 
section  eighty-five,  in  an  adjoining  town,  under  such  regula- 


32  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

tions  and  on*  such  terms  as  the  school  committees  of  said 
towns  agree  upon  and  prescribe,  and  the  school  committee 
of  the  town  in  which  such  children  reside  shall  pay  the  sum 
agreed  upon,  out  of  the  appropriations  of  money  raised  in 
said  town  for  school  purposes.  Except  as  above  provided, 
a  child  attending  a  public  school,  other  than  a  high  school 
approved  as  provided  in  section  eighty-five,  in  a  town  in 
which  his  parent  or  legal  guardian  does  not  reside,  after  hav- 
ing obtained  the  consent  of  the  school  committee  of  such 
town,  shall  pay,  as  tuition,  a  sum  equal  to  the  average  expense 
of  each  scholar  in  such  school. 

Sec.  68.  Election  of  attendance  officers;  their  authority 
and  duties;  vacancies;  penalty  for  neglect  of  duty.  R.  S.  c. 
15,  §  51.  1905,  c.  48,  §  10.  '1909,  c.  238.  1911,  c.  113.  1913, 
c.  79.  The  superintending  school  committee  of  every  city 
and  town  shall  annually  elect  one  or  more  persons,  to  be 
designated  attendance  officers,  who  shall  inquire  into  all 
cases  of  neglect  of  the  duties  prescribed  in  section  sixty-six 
and  ascertain  the  reasons  therefor  and  shall  promptly  report 
the  same  to  the  superintending  school  committee,  and  such 
attendance  officers  or  any  of  them,  shall,  when  so  directed 
by  the  school  committee  or  superintendent,  in  writing,  prose- 
cute in  the  name  of  the  state  any  person  neglecting  to  per- 
form the  duties  prescribed  in  said  s'ection,  by  promptly 
entering  a  complaint  before  a  magistrate;  and  said  officer 
shall,  when  notified  by  any  teacher  that  any  pupil  is  irregu- 
lar in  attendance,  arrest  and  take  such  pupil  to  school  when 
found  truant ;  and  further,  such  officers  shall  enforce  the  pro- 
visions of  sections  one  hundred  forty-nine  to  one  hundred 
fifty-one,  inclusive,  of  this  chapter.  Attendance  officers, 
when  so  directed  in  writing  by  the  superintendent  of  schools 
or  the  superintending  school  committee  of  their  respective 
towns  may  visit  the  manufacturing,  mechanical,  mercan- 
tile and  other  business  establishments  in  their  several  cities 
and  towns  during  the  hours  in  which  the  public  schools  of 
such  city  or  town  are  in  session,  and  ascertain  whether  any 
minors  under  the  age  of  fourteen  years  are  employed  therein, 
and  shall  report  in  writing  any  cases  of  such  employment 
to  the  superintendent  of  schools  or  the  superintending  school 
committee  of  their  city  or  town ;  and  if  any  minors  are  em- 
ployed therein  contrary  to  the  provisions  of  chapter  forty- 
nine,  they  shall  also  report  in  writing  such  illegal  employment 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE.  33 

to  the  commissioner  of  labor  and  industry.  The  owner, 
superintendent,  overseer  or  agent  of  all  manufacturing, 
mechanical,  mercantile  or  other  business  establishments, 
upon  request  shall  produce  for  the  inspection  of  such  attend- 
ance officers  all  work  permits  and  vacation  permits  required 
to  be  kept  on  file  in  such  establishments  under  chapter  forty- 
nine.  Superintending  school  committees  shall  elect  attend- 
ance officers  at  their  first  meeting  after  the  annual  meeting  of 
the  town ;  they  shall  fill  any  vacancies  occurring  during  the 
year  and  they  may  fix  the  compensation  of  said  officers  and 
said  compensation  shall  be  paid  from  the  appropriation  made 
for  the  salaries  of  municipal  officers.  Any  attendance  officer 
neglecting  any  duty  required  of  him  under  the  provisions  of 
this  chapter  shall  be  liable  to  a  fine  of  not  less  than  ten,  nor 
more  than  fifty  dollars;  and  any  town  failing  through  its 
superintending  school  committee  to  meet  said  provisions 
shall  be  liable  to  the  provisions  of  section  nineteen  of  this 
chapter. 

Sec.  69.  Habitual  truant;  attendance  officer  shall  make 
complaint.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  52.  1913,  c.  1.  If  a  child  without 
sufficient  excuse,  shall  be  habitually  and  wilfully  absent  from 
school  or  shall  fail  without  such  excuse  to  attend  school  for 
five  day  sessions  or  for  ten  half-day  sessions  within  any 
period  of  six  months,  he,  shall  be  deemed  an  habitual  truant; 
and  the  superintending  school  committee  shall  notify  him 
and  any  person  under  whose  control  he  may  be  that  unless 
he  conforms  to  section  sixty-six,  the  provisions  of  the  two 
following  sections  will  be  enforced  against  them ;  and  if  there- 
after such  child  continues  irregular  in  attendance,  the  attend- 
ance officers  or  any  of  them  shall,  when  so  directed  by  the 
superintending  school  committee  or  superintendent,  in  writ- 
ing, enforce  said  provisions  by  complaint. 

Sec.  70.  Persons  responsible  for  truancy  punished.  R.  S. 
c.  15,  §  53.  1905,  c.  48,  §  11.  Any  person  having  control  of 
a  child,  who  is  an  habitual  truant,  as  definetl  in  the  forego- 
ing section,  and  being  in  any  way  responsible  for  such  tru- 
ancy, and  any  person  who  induces  a  child  to  absent  himself 
from  school,  or  harbors  or  conceals  such  child  when  he  is 
absent,  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  not  exceeding  twenty  dol- 
lars or  shall  be  imprisoned  not  exceeding  thirty  days. 

Sec.  71.  Habitual  truants  may  be  committed  to  state 
institutions;  attendance  officer  may  execute  warrants.  R. 


SCHOOL    LAWS    OF   MAINE. 

S.  c.  15,  §  54.  1905,  c.  48,  §  12.  On  complaint  of  the  attend- 
ance officer,  an  habitual  truant,  if  a  boy,  may  be  committed 
to  the  state  school  for  boys,  or  if  a  girl,  to  the  state  school 
for  girls,  or  to  any  truant  school  that  may  hereafter  be  estab- 
lished. Municipal  and  police  courts  and  trial  justices  shall 
have  jurisdiction  of  such  complaint  and  of  the  offenses  de- 
scribed in  sections  sixty-six,  sixty-eight  and  seventy.  All 
warrants  issued  by  said  courts  or  trial  justices  upon  such 
complaint,  or  for  an  offense  committed  under  said  sections, 
and  all  legal  processes  issued  by  said  courts  or  trial  justices 
for  the  purpose  of  carrying  into  effect  the  provisions  of  this 
section  and  of  said  sections  sixty-six,  sixty-eight  and  seventy, 
may  be  directed  to  and  executed  by  the  attendance  officer, 
or  either  of  the  attendance  officers,  of  the  town  where  the 
offense  is  committed.  All  fines,  collected  under  said  two  last 
named  sections,  shall  be  paid  to  the  treasurer  of  the  city  or 
town  in  which  the  offense  is  committed,  for  the  support  of 
the  public  schools  therein. 

Note.  Probation  officers  have  authority  of  attendance  officers,  c.  1  :•'>?. 
§  23. 

Free  High  Schools,  Academies  and  Seminaries. 

Sec.  72.  State  aid  to  free  high  schools.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  55. 
1911,  c.  109.  No  town  shall  receive  state  aid  for  the  main- 
tenance of  a  free  high  school  unless  its  appropriation  and 
expenditure  for  such  school  has  been  exclusive  of  the  amounts 
required  by  law  for  common  school  purposes. 

Sec.  73.  Classification  of  high  schools.  1909,  c.  71,  §  1. 
1919,  c.  98.  No  school  shall  be  regarded  as  a  high  school 
within  the  meaning  of  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  chapter 
unless  such  school  shall  be  included  in  the  following  classes : 

Class  A.  This  class  shall  include  such  schools  as  maintain 
at  least  one  approved  course  of  study  through  four  years  of 
thirty-six  weeks  each  and  of  standard  grade,  together  with 
approved  laboratory  equipment,  and  shall  employ  at  least 
two  teachers;  provided,  the  town,  precinct  or  union  maintain- 
ing such  school  shall  appropriate  and  expend  for  instruction 
therein  at  least  eight  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  annually  ex- 
clusive of  all  tuition  received. 

Class  B.  This  class  shall  include  such  schools  as  maintain 
one  approved  course  of  study  through  at  least  two  years  of 
thirty-six  weeks  and  of  standard  grade,  together  with  ap- 
proved equipment,  provided,  the  town,  precinct  or  union 


SCHOOL  LAWS   OF  MAINE.  35 

maintaining  such  school  shall  appropriate  and  expend  for  in- 
struction therein  at  least  five  hundred  dollars  annually  ex- 
clusive of  all  tuition  received. 

Junior  High  School.  This  class  shall  include  such  schools 
as  maintain  a  diversified  program  of  studies  approved  by  the 
state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  for  such  grades  or 
years  as  he  shall  prescribe,  throughout  a  school  year  of  at 
least  thirty-six  weeks,  provided,  that  the  last  two  years  of  the 
elementary  schools  and  not  more  than  two  grades  or  years 
of  the  high  school  may  be  included  in  such  a  school,  and  pro- 
vided that  the  cost  of  maintenance  may  be  taken  from  high 
school  funds,  or  from  high  school  funds  and  common  school 
funds  combined,  in  proportion  to  the  cost  of  maintenance  of 
the  several  grades.  A  school  of  this  class  may  be  main- 
tained in  connection  with  or  as  a  part  of  a  high  school  as 
provided  in  Class  A  of  this  section. 

Sec.  74.  Reimbursement  of  towns.  1909,  c.  71,  §  2. 
1919,  c.  98.  A  town,  precinct  or  union  maintaining  a  high 
school,  as  defined  in  the  preceding  section,  shall  be  reim- 
bursed by  the  state  for  two-thirds  of  the  amount  paid  from 
high  school  funds  for  instruction  in  such  school;  but  in  no 
case  shall  more  than  five  hundred  dollars  be  paid  by  the  state 
to  a  town,  precinct  or  union  in  any  one  year. 

Sec.  75.  Town  not  obliged  to  pay  tuition  under  sections 
85  and  86.  1909,  c.  71,  §  3.  1917,  c.  67.  1919,  c.  98.  A  town, 
precinct  or  union  maintaining  a  high  school,  as  provided  in 
Class  A  of  section  seventy-three,  shall  not  be  obliged  .to  pay 
tuition  under  sections  eighty-five  and  eighty-six  of  this  chap- 
ter. A  town,  precinct  or  union  maintaining  a  high  school  as 
provided  in  Class  B  of  section  seventy-three  or  a  junior  high 
school  as  provided  in  the  same  section  shall  not  be  obliged 
to  pay  tuition  for  any  pupil  until  he  has  completed  that  part 
of  the  course  of  said  school  approved  by  the  state  superin- 
tendent of  schools,  or  the  equivalent  thereof. 

Sec.  76.  Schools  shall  be  inspected.  1909,  c.  71,  §  4.  1915, 
c.  193.  1917,  c.  43.  All  schools  of  secondary  grade  receiving 
state  aid  shall  be  inspected  under  the  direction  of  the  state 
superintendent  of  public  schools,  and  for  this  purpose  he 
shall  be  authorized  to  expend  not  to  exceed  four  thousand 
dollars  annually,  which  sum  shall  be  paid  from  the  state 
appropriation  for  the  support  of  high  schools ;  and  he  shall 
determine  what  schools  are  included  in  the  classification  of 


36  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

section  seventy-three,  what  schools  maintain  the  courses  of 
study,  what  schools  are  entitled  to  state  aid  and  what  schools 
maintain  approved  courses  for  the  reception  of  tuition 
scholars. 

Sec.  77.  When  state  aid  is  payable.  1909,  c.  196;  c.  71, 
§  5.  State  aid  for  free  high  schools  under  the  provisions  of 
the  four  preceding  sections  shall  be  payable  annually  in  the 
month  of  December. 

Sec.  78.     Free  high  schools,  number  in  any  town  limited; 
adjoining  towns  may  maintain  high  schools;  conveyance  of 
pupils;  towns  shall  receive  and  expend  gifts,  bequests  and 
funds  surrendered  by  academies;  state  aid;  penalty  for  mis- 
application of  money  appropriated  by  state.     R.  S.  c.  15,  §  56. 
1909,  c.  148.     Any  town  may  establish  and  maintain  not  ex- 
ceeding two  free  high  schools ;  and  in  such  case  shall  receive 
the  same  state  aid  as  if  the  expenditure  for  both  schools  had 
been   made   for   one.     Two   or   more   adjoining   towns   may 
unite  in  establishing  and  maintaining  a  free  high  school,  and 
both  shall  receive  the  same  state  aid  as  if  such  school  had 
been  maintained  by  one  town.     Any  town  may,  in  addition 
to  the   sums   raised   for  the   support   of  high   and   common 
schools,  raise  and  appropriate  a  sum  for  the  payment  of  con- 
veyance of  pupils  attending  secondary  schools,  said  sum  to 
be  expended  under  the  direction  of  the  superintending  school 
committee.     Towns  shall  receive  in  trust  and  faithfully  ex- 
pend gifts  and  bequests  made  to  aid  in  the  maintenance  of 
free  high  schools,  and  shall  receive  aid  in  such  cases  to  the 
same  extent  and  on  the  same  conditions  as  if  such  schools 
had  been  established  and  maintained  by  taxation;  and  any 
town  shall  receive  such  state  aid  on  any  expenditure  for  a 
free  high  school  or  schools,  made  from  the  funds  or  proceeds 
of  the  real  estate  of  an  academy  or  incorporated  institution 
of  learning,  surrendered  or  transferred  to  such  town  for  edu- 
cational purposes ;  but  if  any  part  of  the  money  so  paid  by 
the  state  is  expended  for  any  other  purpose  than  the  support 
of  such  free  high  schools,  as  provided  by  this  section,  then 
each  person  so  misapplying  said  money  forfeits  double  the 
sum  so  misapplied,  to  be  recovered  in  an  action  of  debt,  in 
the  name   and  to  the  use  of  the   town,   by   any   inhabitant 
thereof;  and  no  town  shall  receive  further  support  from  the 
state  for  any  free  high  school,  until  the  amount  so  received, 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE.  37 

but  misapplied,  has  been  raised  and  expended  for  such  free 
high  schools  by  such  town. 

Sec.  79.  Free  high  school  precincts,  their  organization, 
and  continuance  from  year  to  yearf  sections  of  adjoining 
towns  may  organize  precincts.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  57.  The  in- 
habitants of  any  section  of  a  town  which  fails  or  neglects  to 
provide  for  the  maintenance  of  free  high  schools,  may  organ- 
ize a  free  high  school  precinct  in  the  manner  hereinafter 
provided,  and  may  establish  and  maintain  a  free  high  school 
therein,  and  receive  state  aid  the  same  as  the  town  might 
have  done ;  provided,  that  no  more  than  two  such  free  high 
schools  shall  be  established  in  any  town,  and  that  the  amount 
of  aid  extended  to  the  precincts  in  any  town  shall  not  exceed 
the  sum  that  the  town  might  have  received.  On  petition  of 
any  five  voters  resident  in  said  section,  reciting  the  limits 
of  the  precinct  proposed,  the  municipal  officers  of  the  town 
shall  call  a  meeting  of  the  voters  within  said  limits  by  caus- 
ing notices,  specifying  the  time,  place  and  purposes  of  said 
meeting,  to  be  posted  in  two  or  more  conspicuous  places 
within  said  limits  seven  days  before  the  time  appointed.  Said 
meeting  shall  choose  a  moderator  and  a  clerk  who  shall  be 
sworn,  and  shall,  by  a  majority  vote  of  those  present  and 
voting,  determine  whether  said  precinct  shall  be  organized. 
It  shall  chose  an  agent  who  shall  be  duly  sworn.  Such  pre- 
cinct may  continue  its  organization  from  year  to  year  by  the 
holding  of  meetings  called  in  the  manner  aforesaid,  so  long 
as  the  town  shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  support  free  high 
schools.  Sections  of  adjoining  towns  may  organize  as  herein 
provided,  and  unite  in  the  support  of  such  schools.  But  no 
more  than  two  such  precincts  shall  exist  at  the  same  time  in 
any  town. 

Sec.  80.  Location  of  school;  schoolrooms,  how  supplied 
and  furnished.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  58.  Any  town,  precinct  or 
union  of  towns  or  precincts,  voting  to  establish  a  free  high 
school  as  herein  provided,  may  locate  the  same  permanently, 
or  vote  that  the  terms  thereof  be  held  alternately  in  such 
places  within  the  town  or  towns,  precinct  or  precincts,  as 
may  be  selected,  and  as  may  accept  said  school.  The  town 
or  precinct,  in  which  said  school  is  thus  held,  shall  supply 
appropriate  equipments,  and  furnish  and  warm  a  suitable 
builclimr  for  the  same ;  provided  that  any  schoolhouse  within 


38  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

such  town  or  precinct  may  be  used  for  such  free  high  school, 
when  not  required  for  ordinary  school  purposes. 

Sec.  81.  Course  of  study.  Schools  to  be  free  to  the  youth 
in  any  town  or  union  of  towns,  precincts  or  union  of  pre- 
cincts; admission  of  pupils  from  without  towns  or  precincts. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  59.  The  course  of  study  in  the  free  high  schools, 
shall  embrace  the  ordinary  English  academic  studies  which 
are  taught  in  secondary  schools,  especially  the  natural  sci- 
ences in  their  application  to  mechanics,  manufactures  and 
agriculture;  but  the  ancient  or  modern  languages  and  music 
shall  not  be  taught  therein  except  by  direction  of  the  super- 
intending school  committees  having  supervision  thereof. 
Such  schools,  when  established  by  any  town  or  union  of 
towns,  shall  be  free  to  all  the  youth  in  such  town  or  towns 
who  have  such  scholastic  attainments  as  will  fit  them  to  at- 
tend such  schools  with  profit,  and  the  superintendent,  or 
superintending  school  committee,  having  supervision  thereof 
shall  make  such  examination  of  candidates  for  admission  to 
said  schools  as  they  consider  necessary. 

When  such  school  is  established  by  any  precinct  or  union 
of  precinct,  it  shall  be  free  in  the  same  manner  to  the 
scholars,  within  such  precincts,  and  open  also  to  scholars 
passing  the  required  examination  from  without  such  pre- 
cincts, but  within  the  towns  in  which  said  precincts  are 
situated,  on  payment  to  the  agent  of  the  precinct  in  which 
such  school  is  located,  of  such  tuition,  to  be  fixed  by  the 
superintending  school  committee  or  committees  having 
supervision  of  the  same,  as  is  equivalent  to  the  cost  a  scholar 
of  maintaining  such  school,  after  deducting  the  aid  extended 
by  the  state.  Whenever  in  the  judgment  of  the  superintend- 
ing school  committees  having  the  supervision  of  any  free 
high  school  or  schools,  the  number  of  pupils  in  the  same  may 
be  increased  without  detriment,  scholars  from  without  the 
towns  directly  interested  in  such  school  or  schools,  may  be 
admitted  to  the  same  on  passing  the  required  examination 
and  paying  such  tuition  as  may  be  fixed  by  such  committee, 
to  the  treasurer  of  the  town  in  which  the  school  is  kept, 
when  the  school  is  maintained  by  a  town  or  union  of  towns, 
or  to  the  agent  of  the  precinct  in  which  the  school  is  kept, 
when  such  school  is  maintained  by  a  precinct  or  union  of 
precincts. 


SCHOOL  LAWS   OF   MAINE.  39 

Sec.   82.     Free  high   schools   subject  to   the   school  laws, 
except  in  certain  cases;  their  management  and  supervision. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  60.     Free  high  schools,  established  and  main- 
tained under  the  foregoing  provisions,  are  subject  to  the  laws 
relating  to  common  schools,  so  far  as  applicable,  except  as 
otherwise  provided.     When  established  and   maintained  by 
a  town,  they  shall  be  under  the  supervision  and  entire  man- 
agement  of   the    superintending   school   committee    of    such 
town.     When    established    and    maintained    by    a    union    of 
towns,  such  school  shall  be  under  the  supervision  and  entire 
management  of  the  school  committees  of  such  towns,  who 
constitute  a  joint  board  for  that  purpose.     When  established 
and  maintained  by  any  precinct,  such  school  shall  be  under 
the    supervision   of   the    superintending   committee    of    such 
town,  or  of  the  state  superintendent,  when  the  precinct  so- 
elects,  and  under  the  financial  management  of  the  agent  of 
the   precinct,    who,   in   connection    with    said    committee   or 
superintendent,  shall  employ  teachers  for  the  same.     When 
established  and  maintained  by  precincts  composed  of  sections 
of  adjoining  towns,  such  school  shall  be  under  the  supervision 
of  the  superintending  school  committees  of  such  towns,  who 
constitute  a  joint  board  for  that  purpose,  and  under  the  finan- 
cial management  of  the  agents  of  both  precincts,  who,   in 
connection  with  said  committees,  shall  employ  the  teachers. 
Sec.  83.     Towns  may  raise  money  to  maintain  free  high 
schools.     R.  S.  c.  15,  §  61.     Towns  and  precincts  may  raise 
money  for  establishing  and  maintaining  free  high   schools, 
and    erecting   buildings    and    providing    equipment    for    the 
same,  in  the  same  manner  as  for  supporting  common  schools 
and  erecting  schoolhouses. 

Sec.  84.  Provisions  for  pupils  in  towns  having  no  free 
high  schools.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  62.  1905,  c.  48,  §  13.  1911,  c.  88, 
1915,  c.  66.  Any  town  which  does  not  maintain  a  free  high 
school  of  standard  grade  may,  from  year  to  year,  authorize 
its  superintending  school  committee  to  contract  with  and 
pay  the  superintending  school  committee  of  any  adjoining 
town  or  the  trustees  of  any  academy  located  within  such 
town  or  in  an  adjoining  town,  for  the  tuition  of  scholars 
within  said  town  in  the  studies  contemplated  by  the  eleven 
preceding  sections.  When  such  contract  has  been  made  with 
the  trustees  of  an  academy,  a  joint  committee  for.  the  selec- 
tion of  teachers  and  the  arrangement  of  the  course  of  study 


40  SCHOOL   LAWS  OF   MAINE. 

in  such  academy  shall  include  the  superintending  school 
committees  of  the  contracting  towns  with  an  equal  number 
of  members  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  such  academy  when 
such  academy  has  less  than  twenty-five  thousand  dollars 
endowment.  The  expenditure  of  any  town  for  tuition  as 
provided  in  this  section  shall  be  subject  to  the  same  condi- 
tions and  shall  entitle  such  town  to  the  same  state  aid  as 
if  it  had  made  such  expenditure  for  a  free  high  school. 

Sec.  85.  A  youth  residing  in  a  town  not  supporting  a 
secondary  school,  may  attend  such  school  elsewhere;  tuition 
shall  be  paid  by  town;  free  tuition  while  youth  maintains 
satisfactory  standards.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  63.  1907,  c.  73.  1909, 
c.  116.  1913,  c.  57.  1915,  c.  223.  1917,  c.  229.  1919,  c.  96. 
Any  youth  who  resides  with  a  parent  or  guardian  in  any  town 
which  does  not  support  and  maintain  a  standard  secondary 
school,  may  attend  any  approved  secondary  school  to  which 
he  may  gain  entrance  by  permission  of  those  having  charge 
thereof,  provided  the  said  youth  shall  attend  a  school  or 
schools  whose  courses  are  approved  by  the  state  superintend- 
ent of  public  schools,  and  in  such  case  the  tuition  of  said 
youth,  not  to  exceed  forty-five  dollars  annually  for  any  one 
youth,  shall  be  paid  by  the  town  in  which  he  resides  as  afore- 
said, and  said  tuition  so  paid,  shall  be  made  a  part  of  the  high 
school  fund  of  the  town  receiving  the  same;  and  towns  shall 
raise  annually,  as  other  school  moneys  are  raised,  a  sum  suffi- 
cient to  pay  such  tuition  charges ;  provided,  however,  that  no 
youth  shall  be  entitled  to  free  tuition  under  the  provisions  of 
this  section  unless  he  shall  have  satisfactorily  passed  an  ex- 
amination in  common  school  branches,  said  examination 
having  been  given  under  the  direction  of  the  superintendent 
of  schools  of  the  town  wherein  such  youth  resides,  on  papers 
procured  from  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  or 
unless  such  youths  shall  have  satisfactorily  completed  a  stand- 
ard common  school  course  of  study  which  has  been  approved 
by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools ;  except  that 
any  youth  who  has  satisfactorily  completed  the  course  of  a 
B  class  or  junior  high  school,  as  provided  by  section  seventy- 
three,  shall  be  entitled  to  this  free  tuition,  as  hereinbefore 
provided,  for  the  completion  of  the  four  years  of  a  standard 
secondary  course  without  the  examination  herein  prescribed; 
provided,  further,  that  such  free  tuition  privilege  shall  con- 
tinue only  so  long  as  said  vouth  shall  maintain  a  satisfactory 


SCHOOL  LAWS   OF   MAINE.  §  41 

standard  of  deportment  and  scholarship.  Any  youth  who 
otherwise  meets  the  requirements  of  this  section  with  refer- 
ence to  admission  to  secondary  schools  shall  be  entitled  to 
the  payment  of  his  tuition,  as  herein  provided,  in  any  high 
school  of  the  B  class  or  junior  high  school  for  such  part  of 
the  course  of  such  high  school  as  may  be  approved  as  equiva- 
lent in  grade  to  the  corresponding  years  of  a  standard  sec- 
ondary course.  Superintendents  of  schools  shall  issue  certifi- 
cates of  free  tuition  privilege  to  persons  who  may  be  entitled 
to  free  tuition  under  the  provisions  of  this  section.  Any 
school  receiving  tuition  pupils  under  the  provisions  of  this 
section  shall  provide,  without  additional  charge,  all  textbooks, 
apparatus  and  appliances  used  by  said  pupils,  subject  to  the 
provisions  of  sections  twenty-two  to  twenty-four,  inclusive, 
of  this  chapter. 

100  Me.  549 ;     101  Me.  553. 

Sec.  86.  Returns  to  state  superintendent  of  public  schools 
of  expenditure  for  tuition.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  64.  1909,  c.  112. 
1919,  c.  103.  When  any  town  shall  have  been  required  to  pay 
and  has  paid  tuition  as  aforesaid,  the  superintendent  of  schools 
of  such  town  shall  make  a  return  under  oath  to  the  state  su- 
perintendent of  public  schools  before  the  first  day  of  Sep- 
tember for  the  preceding  school  year,  stating  the  name  of 
each  youth,  for  whom  tuition  has  been  paid,  the  amount  paid 
for  each,  and  the  name  and  location  of  the  school  which  each 
has  attended,  and  thereupon  shall  be  paid,  annually  in  the 
month  of  December,  from  the  state  treasury  out  of  the  appro- 
priation for  the  support  of  free  high  schools,  to  each  town 
paying  tuition  and  making  return  as  aforesaid,  a  sum  equal 
to  two-thirds  of  the  amount  thus  paid  by  such  town,  not 
exceeding  five  hundred  dollars. 

See  c.  4,  §  31. 

Sec.  87.  Returns  to  state  superintendent  of  expenditure 
for  free  high  schools ;  state  superintendent  to  certify  amounts 
to  which  towns  are  entitled ;  appeal  to  governor  and  council ; 
penalty  for  defrauding  state.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  65.  1909,  c.  28. 
Superintendents  shall,  annually,  before  the  first  day  of  July, 
make  returns  under  oath  to  the  state  superintendent  of  public 
schools  on  blanks  prepared  and  sent  out  by  him,  of  the 
amount  appropriated  and  the  amount  expended  by  each  town 
or  precinct  for  instruction  in  such  free  high  schools  during 
the  current  year;  also  of  the  amount  appropriated  and  the 


42  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

amount  expended  for  common  school  purposes  by  each 
town  maintaining  the  same;  the  number  of  weeks  during 
which  such  schools  have  been  taught;  the  wages  paid  each 
teacher;  the  number  of  pupils  registered;  the  average  attend- 
ance; the  number  of  pupils  in  each  branch  of  study  pursued, 
and  the  amount  received  for  tuition.  If  the  state  superin- 
tendent is  satisfied  that  the  provisions  of  sections  seventy-two 
to  eighty-four  have  been  complied  with,  he  shall  certify  to  ' 
the  governor  and  council  the  sum  which  each  town  or  precinct 
is  entitled  to  receive  from  the  state.  Any  town  or  precinct, 
dissatisfied  with  his  decision,  may  appeal  to  the  governor 
and  council,  and  the  governor  and  council  shall  issue  a  cer- 
tificate to  the  treasurer  of  the  town  or  agent  of  the  precinct, 
for  such  amount  as  they  adjudge  such  town  or  precinct  en- 
titled to  receive  from  the  state  treasury.  Any  person  con- 
nected with  the  management  of  such  free  high  schools,  either 
as  teacher,  agent  or  superintendent,  who  in  any  way  aids  or 
abets  in  defrauding  the  state  into  the  payment  in  support  of 
said  schools  of  more  than  is  contemplated  by  this  chapter, 
shall  forfeit  not  less  than  five  hundred  dollars,  or  be  impris- 
oned in  the  county  jail  not  less  than  one  year. 

Sec.  88.  High  school  precinct  taxes,  how  assessed  and 
collected.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  66.  When  a  free  high  school  pre- 
cinct votes  to  raise  money  for  establishing  and  maintaining  a 
free  high  school,  its  clerk  shall  forthwith,  or  within  the  time 
prescribed  by  the  precinct,  certify  the  amount  thereof  to  the 
assessors  of  the  town,  and  the  time  when  it  must  be  raised; 
and  within  sixty  days  after  receiving  such  certificate  they 
shall  assess  it  as  they  do  town  taxes,  on  the  polls  and  estates 
of  the  residents  and  owners  in  the  precinct  at  the  time  of  rais- 
ing said  money,  whether  wholly  in  this  town  or  not,  and  on 
the  non-resident  real  estate  in  the  precinct.  They  shall  then 
make  their  warrant  in  due  form  of  law,  directed  to  any  col- 
lector of  their  town,  if  any,  if  not  to  a  constable,  requiring 
him  to  levy  and  collect  such  tax  and  pay  it  to  the  town  treas- 
urer within  the  time  limited  in  the  warrant;  and  they  shall 
give  a  certificate  of  the  assessment  to  such  treasurer,  and 
may  abate  such  taxes  as  in  the  case  of  town  taxes. 

12  Me.  258;     15  Me.  260;     28  Me.  203;     31  Me.  284;     35  Me.  39? 
Me.  187;     41  Me.  505;     51  Me.  102;     60  Me.  280;  74  Me.  411. 

Sec.  89.     Assessors  authorized  to  assess  overlay.     R.  S.  c. 
15,  §  67.     The  assessors  may  include  in  their  assessment  such 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE.  43 

sum  over  and  above  the  sum  committed  to  them  to  assess, 
not  exceeding  five  per  cent  thereof,  as  a  fractional  division 
renders  necessary,  and  certify  that  fact  to  the  town  treasurer. 

Sec.  90.  Expense  of  assessment.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  68.  The 
town  treasurer  shall  pay  the  expense  of  assessing  and  collect- 
ing any  free  high  school  precinct  tax  out  of  the  money  of  the 
precinct,  upon  the  order  of  the  selectmen. 

73  Me.  181. 

Sec.  91.  Precinct  taxes  assessed  without  authority.  R.  S. 
c.  15,  §  69.  Section  thirty-one  of  chapter  eleven,  and  all 
other  sections  relating  to  the  same  subject  apply  to  taxes 
assessed  by  or  for  free  high  school  precincts,  so  far  as  appli- 
cable ;  but  the  precinct  and  not  the  town  is  liable. 

77  Me.  415. 

Sec.  92.  Powers  and  duties  of  collectors ;  their  compensa- 
tion. R.  S.  c.  15,  §  70.  The  collector  or  constable,  and  the 
town  treasurer,  or  treasurer  and  collector,  if  one  person  is 
both,  each  have  the  same  powers  and  are  subject  to  the  same 
duties  and  obligations  in  relation  to  free  high  school  pre- 
cinct taxes,  as  to  town  taxes ;  and  they  and  the  assessors  shall 
be  allowed  by  the  precinct  for  their  services,  a  compensation 
proportionate  to  what  they  receive  from  the  town  for  similar 
services. 

::i.  Me.  281;     41  Me.  247 ;     67  Me.  240. 

Sec.  93.     Money  at  disposal  of  agent.     R.  S.  c.  15,  §  71. 

The  money  so  raised  and  paid  shall  be  at  the  disposal  of  the 
precinct  agent,  to  be  by  him  expended  as  provided  in  section 
eighty-two. 

Sec.  94.  Trustees  of  academies,  etc.,  may  surrender  prop- 
erty to  establish  free  high  schools.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  72.  The 
trustees  of  any  academy  or  other  corporation  formed  for 
educational  purposes  may  by  a  majority  vote  of  such  of  said 
trustees  as  reside  in  the  state,  surrender  the  whole,  or  any 
part  of  the  property  belonging  thereto,  to  the  municipal  offi- 
cers of  any  town,  or  the  trustees  of  any  school  fund  in  any 
town  in  which  said  academy  or  corporation  is  situated,  for 
turning  the  same  into  a  free  high  school  as  hereinafter  pro- 
vided, and  said  municipal  officers  or  trustees,  for  the  time 
being,  shall  be  a  board  of  trustees  to  take  and  hold  said  prop- 
erty for  maintaining  a  free  high  school ;  and  upon  receiving 
said  property,  they  shall  use  proper  diligence  to  make  the 
same  produce  income  for  the  support  of  said  free  high  school. 


44 


SCHOOL  LAWS   OF  MAINE. 


Sec.   95.       Property,   how   conveyed.       R.   S.   c.   15,   §  73. 

When  such  vote  is  so  passed,  the  treasurer  of  said  trustees 
shall  convey,  assign  and  deliver  to  the  municipal  officers  of 
said  town,  or  the  trustees  of  such  fund,  all  property  belong- 
ing to  said' academy  or  corporation  for  the  purposes  indicated 
by  the  preceding  section. 

Sec.  96.  Income  of  property,  how  applied;  qualification 
of  pupils,  how  determined.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  74.  1913,  c.  70, 
§  1.  The  municipality  accepting  the  property  in  trust,  as 
named  in  section  ninety-four,  shall  apply  the  income  thereof 
towards  the  support  of  a  free  high  school  to  be  kept  within 
said  municipality,  within  the  requirements  of  the  laws  re- 
lating to  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  free  high 
schools,  and  provide  suitable  accommodations  for  the  same ; 
the  superintending  school  committee  in  said  municipality 
shall  determine  the  qualifications  necessary  to  entitle  any 
applicant  to  enter  or  attend  said  free  high  school,  and  no  one 
shall  attend  it  without  certificate  of  said  officers  to  that  effect. 
Sec.  97.  Tuition  to  be  paid  by  non-residents.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
§  75.  All  scholars  residing  within  the  municipality  afore- 
said, having  such  certificate,  may  attend  said  school  without 
tuition  fee,  and  all  scholars  not  residents  of  said  municipality, 
may  attend  said  school  upon  such  terms  and  conditions  as 
said  superintending  school  committee  may  impose. 

Sec.  98.  State  aid  to  academies.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  76.  1907, 
c.  102,  §  1.  Whenever  it  shall  be  made  to  appear  to  the 
governor  and  council,  from  returns  made  as  herein  provided, 
that  any  incorporated  academy  in  the  state  is  prepared  to 
give  instruction  equivalent  to  that  required  by  law  to  be 
given  in  free  high  schools,  that  the  pupils  attending  the  said 
academy  are  qualified  to  receive  such  instruction,  and  that 
the  teachers  in  the  said  academy  have  the  qualifications  fit- 
ting them  to  give  instruction  in  secondary  school  studies, 
such  academy  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  annually  from  the 
state  a  sum  not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars,  in  case  it 
maintains  an  English  secondary  school  course  of  study  as 
presented  by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  or 
a  sum  not  exceeding  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  in  case 
it  maintains  in  addition  to  an  English  course  a  college  pre- 
paratorv  course,  or  a  sum  not  exceeding  one  thousand  dollars 
in  case  it  maintains  an  English'  course,  a  college  prepara- 
tory course  and  a  training  course  for  teachers;  provided, 


SCHOOL   LAWS   OF   MAINE.  45 

that  the  courses  of  study  herein  named  shall  be  sub- 
ject to  the  approval  of  the  state  superintendent  of  public 
schools,  and  provided,  that  the  amount  paid  by  the  state  to 
any  academy  under  this  section  shall  be  expended  by  the 
said  academy  for  instruction  during  the  year  for  which  pay- 
ment is  made,  and  shall  not  exceed  the  total  income  of  the 
said  academy  from  all  other  sources ;  and  provided,  further, 
that  in  addition  to  the  amount  received  from  the  state,  a  sum 
equal  thereto  shall  be  expended  for  instruction  and  mainte- 
nancepf  the  academy  during  said  year;  and  provided,  further, 
that  every  academy  receiving  money  from  the  state  under 
this  section  shall  provide  instruction  as  contemplated  by  this 
section  for  not  less  than  thirty  weeks  in  each  year;  and  pro- 
vided, further,  that  no  academy  shall  be  credited  with  main- 
taining a  course  of  study  under  this  section  unless  the  said 
academy  shall  have  an  average  of  not  less  than  twelve  stu- 
dents in  said  course. 

Sec.  99.  Mode  of  payment.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  77.  The  gov- 
ernor and  council  may  draw  warrants  on  the  treasurer  of 
state  for  the  payment  annually  to  the  legal  representatives 
of  such  academies,  as  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  money 
from  the  state  under  the  preceding  section,  at  the  times  and 
in  the  manner  provided  by  law  for  the  payment  of  money 
in  aid  of  free  high  schools,  of  the  amounts  to  which  they 
shall  be  severally  entitled  thereunder;  provided,  that  no 
payment  shall  be  made  to  any  academy  until  the  state  super- 
intendent of  public  schools  shall  have  certified  to  the  gov- 
ernor and  council  all  the  facts  which  by  law  are  made  neces- 
sary to  entitle  an  academy  to  receive  money  from  the  state 
under  the  preceding  section. 

Sec.  100.  Condition  of  state  aid.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  78.  1913, 
c.  70,  §  2.  No  town  shall  receive  state  aid  under  the  pro- 
visions of  section  eighty-four  of  this  chapter  if  a  free  high 
school  of  standard  grade  is  maintained  in  such  town. 

Sec.  101.  Incorporation.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  79.  1907,  c.  91. 
No  academy  shall  receive  state  aid  under  section  ninety- 
eight  unless  incorporated  prior  to  May  one,  nineteen  hundred 
and  seven. 

Sec.  102.  Attendance.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  80.  1907,  c.  102,  §  2. 
No  academy  shall  receive  state  aid  under  section  ninety- 
eight  unless  the  average  attendance  in  said  academy  for  the 
year  preceding  or  for  five  years  next  preceding,  shall  exceed 


46  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

thirty  students,  and  no  academy  shall  receive  to  exceed  five 
hundred  dollars  unless  the  average  attendance  in  said  acad- 
emy for  the  year  preceding  shall  exceed  sixty  students. 

Sec.  103.  Income.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  81.  1915,  c.  205.  No 
academy  shall  receive  state  aid  under  section  ninety-eight  if 
said  academy  has  an  annual  income  from  invested  funds  ex- 
ceeding two  thousand  dollars ;  and  no  academy  shall  receive 
state  aid  to  exceed  five  hundred  dollars  in  any  given  year 
provided  the  said  academy  has  an  annual  income  from  in- 
vested funds  exceeding  one  thousand  dollars ;  provided^  how- 
ever, that  any  academy  with  a  larger  average  attendance  than 
two  hundred  shall  receive  such  aid  not  to  exceed  one  thou- 
sand dollars  if  its  annual  income  from  invested  funds,  after 
deducting  interest  paid  on  its  indebtedness,  does  not  exceed 
two  thousand  dollars. 

Sec.  104.  Institutions  receiving  state  aid  shall  make  re- 
port to  state  superintendent  of  public  schools;  construction 
of  terms.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  82.  1919,  c.  117.  Every  educational 
institution  receiving  state  aid,  and  the  officers  and  teachers  of 
every  academy  receiving  money  from  the  state,  and  of  every 
academy  or  private  school  approved  for  attendance  or  tuition 
purposes,  shall  annually,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  August, 
report  to  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  the  total 
and  average  attendance,  an  account  of  the  moneys  received 
and  expended  during  the  preceding  year,  the  number  of  in- 
structors, and  such  schools  as  are  approved  for  state  aid  or 
tuition  purposes  shall  report  such  other  items  as  he  may  re- 
quire. Such  reports  shall  be  published  in  the  annual  report 
of  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools.  Every  such 
educational  institution  failing  to  comply  with  the  above  re- 
quirements shall  forfeit  whatever  aid  or  assistance  it  would 
otherwise  receive  from  the  state.  Wherever  in  sections 
ninety-eight  to  one  hundred  and  four,  inclusive,  the  word 
"academy"  occurs,  it  shall  be  construed  to  include  "seminary 
or  institute." 

Duties  and  Qualifications  of  Instructors. 

Sec.  105.  Presidents  of  colleges,  tenure  of  office.  R.  S.  c. 
15,  §  83.  Presidents  of  colleges  are  removable  at  the  pleas- 
ure of  the  trustees  and  overseers,  whose  concurrence  is  neces- 
sary  for  their  election. 


SCHOOL    LAWS   OF    MAINE.  47 

Sec.  106.     Fees  for  degrees  conferred.     R.  S.  c.  15,  §  84. 

No  officer  of  a  college  shall  receive  as  perquisites  any  fees  for 
a  diploma  or  medical  degree  conferred  by  such  college,  but 
such  fees  shall  be  paid  into  the  college  treasury. 

Sec.  107.  Teachers  shall  keep  school  register;  not  to  be 
paid  until  register  is  completed.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  85.  1909,  c.  74. 
1919,  c.  55.  Every  teacher  of  a  public  school  shall  keep  a 
register  thereof,  containing  the  names  of  all  scholars  who 
enter  the  school,  their  ages,  the  dates  of  each  scholar's  en- 
tering and  leaving,  the  number  of  days  during  which  each 
attended,  the  length  of  the  school,  the  teacher's  wages,  a  list 
of  textbooks  used,  and  all  other  facts  required  by  the  blank 
forms  furnished  him.  Such  register  shall  at  all  times  be  open 
to  the  inspection  of  the  superintending  school  committee,  and 
be  returned  to  them  at  the  close  of  the  school.  Teachers  may 
be  paid  for  their  services  at  the  close  of  each  school  month, 
at  such  shorter  intervals  as  the  committee  may  determine, 
but  no  teacher  shall  receive  final  payment  for  services  for 
any  term  until  the  register  herein  described,  properly  filled, 
completed  and  signed,  is  deposited  with  the  school  committee, 
« >r  with  the  person  designated  by  them  to  receive  it.  Five 
days  constitute  the  school  week,  and  four  weeks  a  school 
month. 

Sec  c.  40,  §  34;     63  Me.  244. 

Sec.  108.  Instructors  of  colleges,  etc.,  to  inculcate  moral- 
ity, justice,  truth,  industry  and  patriotism;  kindness  to  birds 
and  animals  shall  be  taught  in  public  schools.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
§  86.  1917,  c.  228.  The  president,  professors  and  tutors  of 
colleges,  the  preceptors  and  teachers  of  academies,  and  all 
other  instructors  of  youth,  in  public  or  private  institutions, 
shall  use  their  best  endeavors  to  impress  on  the  minds  of  the 
children  and  youth  committed  to  their  care  and  instruction, 
the  principles  of  morality  and  justice,  and  a  sacred  regard  for 
truth ;  love  of  country,  humanity  and  a  universal  benevo- 
lence;  sobriety,  industry  and  frugality;  chastity,  moderation 
and  temperance ;  and  all  other  virtues  which  ornament  human 
society ;  and  to  lead  those  under  their  care,  as  their  ages  and 
capacities  admit,  into  a  particular  understanding  of  the  ten- 
dency of  such  virtues  to  preserve  and  perfect  a  republican 
constitution,  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty,  and  to  promote 
their  future  happiness ;  and  the  tendency  of  the  opposite  vices, 
to  slavery,  degradation  and  ruin;  all  teachers  in  the  public 


48  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

schools  of  the  state  shall  devote  not  less  than  one-half  hour 
of  each  week  of  the  school  term,  to  teaching  to  the  children 
under  their  charge  in  correlation  with  other  studies  of  the 
school  curriculum,  the  great  principles  of  humanity  as  illus- 
trated by  kindness  to  birds  and  animals  and  regard  for  all 
factors  which  contribute  to  the  well  being  of  man. 

Sec.  109.  School  holidays.  Special  observance  of  Wash- 
ington's birthday  and  Columbus  day.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  88.  1905, 
c.  48,  §  14.  1907,  c.  48,  §  1.  1909,  c.  190,  §  1.  1911,  c.  23. 
1913,  c.  195.  The  following  days  shall  be  observed  as  school 
holidays,  namely :  Washington's  birthday,  February  twenty- 
two;  Patriot's  day,  April  nineteen;  Memorial  day,  May 
thirty;  Independence  day,  July  four;  Labor  day,  first  Mon- 
day in  September;  Columbus  day,  October  12;  Christmas 
day,  December  twenty-five ;  Thanksgiving  and  Arbor  day, 
as  appointed  by  the  governor  and  council.  Provided,  how- 
ever, that  Arbor  day  shall  not  be  recognized  as  a  school 
holiday  unless  observed  by  teacher  and  pupils  for  the  pur- 
pose for  which  it  is  designated  by  the  governor  and  council. 
And  provided,  further,  that  Lincoln  day  shall  be  observed  by 
devoting  some  part  of  the  day  to  the  study  of  the  life  and 
character  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  All  teachers  of  public  schools 
in  the  state  may  close  their  schools  and  draw  pay  the  same 
as  if  their  schools  had  been  in  session  on  any  of  the  following 
days :  Patriot's  day,  April  nineteen ;  Memorial  day.  May 
thirty;  Independence  day,  July  four;  Labor  day,  first  Mon- 
day in  September;  Christmas  day,  December  twenty-five; 
Thanksgiving  day,  as  appointed  by  the  governor  and  council. 
When  any  one  of  the  above  named  holidays  falls  on  a  Sunday, 
the  Monday  following  shall  be  observed  as  a  school  holiday, 
with  all  the  privileges  applying  to  any  of  the  days  above 
named.  In  addition  to  the  foregoing  each  of  the  days  here- 
inafter named  shall,  upon  vote  of  the  superintending  school 
committee  of  any  town,  be  observed  by  teachers  and  pupils 
of  the  public  schools  of  said  town  by  an  exercise  appropriate 
thereto,  such  exercise  to  be  held  during  such  part  of  the 
school  session  as  the  teacher  of  each  school  may  designate. 
The  exercises  so  held  shall  aim  to  impress  on  the  minds  of  the 
youth  the  important  lessons  of  character  and  good  citizenship 
to  be  learned  from  the  lives  of  American  leaders  and  heroes 
and  from  a  contemplation  of  their  own  duties  and  obligations 
to  the  community,  state  and  nation  of  which  they  constitute 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF   MAINE.  40 

a  part.  In  the  absence  of  any  vote  of  the  superintending 
school  committee  said  days,  hereinafter  designated,  shall  be 
observed  as  legal  school  holidays  with  the  closing  of  schools. 
The  days  thus  designated  for  school  observance  upon  vote 
of  the  superintending  school  committee  of  any  town  shall  be 
as  follows :  Washington's  birthday,  February  twenty-two  ; 
Columbus  day,  October  twelve. 

Teachers'  Associations. 

Sec.  110.  Teachers  and  school  officers  may  form  asso- 
ciations for  improvement  in  art  of  teaching.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  89. 
1917,  c.  60.  1919,  c.  45.  Whenever  not  less  than  thirty  of 
the  teachers  and  school  officers  of  any  county  shall  have 
formed  an  association  under  rules  of  government  approved 
by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  for  the  purpose 
of  mutual  improvement  in  the  science  and  art  of  teaching,  and 
of  creating  popular  interest  in,  and  diffusing  a  knowledge  of 
the  best  methods  of  improving  our  public  school  system,  by 
the  holding  of  conventions  at  least  once  every  year  under  the 
supervision  of  the  state  superintendent,  the  state  shall  defray 
the  necessary  expenses  attending  the  holding  of  such  con- 
ventions. Whenever  a  superintendent  of  schools  shall  hold 
a  meeting  or  institute  of  the  teachers  of  several  towns  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  instruction  in  methods  of  teaching  or  the 
conduct  of  schools  or  for  the  training  of  teachers  already  in 
service  in  a  manner  approved  by  the  state  superintendent  of 
public  schools,  financial  assistance  may  be  given  by  the  state 
in  defraying  expenses  of  such  meetings.  For  the  purpose  of 
this  section  the  sum  of  four  thousand  dollars  is  hereby  annu- 
ally appropriated  to  be  deducted  and  set  aside  therefor  by  the 
treasurer  of  state  from  the  annual  school  fund  of  the  state. 

Sec.  111.  Teachers  may  suspend  schools  during  conven- 
tions. R.  S.  c.  15,  §  90.  Teachers  of  public  schools  may 
suspend  their  schools  for  not  more  than  two  days  in  any 
year  during  the  sessions  of  such  conventions  within  their 
counties  and  also  for  not  more  than  two  days  in  any  year 
during  the  sessions  of  any  state  teachers'  convention  ap- 
proved by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  unless 
otherwise  directed  in  writing  by  the  school  officers,  and 
attend  said  conventions  without  forfeiture  of  pay  for  the 
time  of  such  attendance,  provided  they  shall  present  to  the 


50  SCHOOL   LAWS  OF   MAINE. 

officers  employing  them,  certificates  signed  by  the  secretaries 
of  such  conventions  and  countersigned  by  the  state  super- 
intendent of  public  schools,  showing  such  attendance. 

Sec.  112.  Governor  to  draw  warrants  to  pay  expenses. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  91.  1909,  c.  30.  The  governor  and  council 
may  draw  warrants  on  the  treasurer  of  state  for  the  pay- 
ment of  bills  for  the  expenses  provided  for  in  section  one 
hundred  and  ten,  when  such  bills  shall  have  been  approved 
by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  provided,  how- 
ever, that  no  bills  shall  be  so  paid  except  those  for  advertis- 
ing such  conventions,  and  for  services  and  actual  traveling 
expenses  of  speakers  and  lecturers  not  residing  in  the  counties 
in  which  such  conventions  are  held. 

Schools  in  Plantations. 

Sec.  113.  Powers  of  plantations  to  maintain  schools.  R. 
S.  c.  15,  §  92.  Plantations  have  the  same  powers  and  lia- 
bilities as  towns  for  electing  superintending  school  commit- 
tees, superintendents  of  schools,  treasurers  and  collectors, 
and  for  raising,  assessing  and  collecting  school  money,  to  be 
apportioned  and  expended  as  in  towns.  The  assessors  of 
plantations  may  take  a  census  of  the  inhabitants  thereof, 
at  the  expense  of  the  plantation,  and  when  so  taken,  the 
money  raised  therein  for  schools  shall  be  upon  the  basis  of 
such  census  and  not  upon  the  census  of  the  state. 

See  c.  4,  §  140;     61  Me.  449. 

Sec.  114.  School  moneys  of  plantations,  how  expended. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  93.  All  moneys  due  plantations  from  the  state 
treasury  for  school  purposes,  shall  be  paid  to  the  treasurers 
of  such  plantations,  under  the  same  conditions  as  in  case 
of  towns,  and  the  same  shall  be  expended  by  such  planta- 
tions, under  the  same  restrictions  and  limitations  as  are 
required  of  towns. 

State  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools. 

Sec.  120.  Appointment  and  term  of  office.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
§  98.  The  governor  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  coun- 
cil shall  appoint  a  state  superintendent  of  public  schools, 
who  shall  continue  in  office  three  years,  or  during  the  pleas- 
ure of  the  executive;  vacancies  shall  be  filled  by  a  new  ap- 
pointment for  a  like  term. 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE.  51 

Sec.  121.  Office  at  the  capital.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  99.  1907 
c.  171,  §  1.  1909,  c.  125,  §  1.  1913,  c.  12,  §  1.  An  office  shall 
be  provided  for  him  at  the  seat  of  government,  where  he 
shall  perform  his  official  duties,  not  meaning,  however,  to 
prohibit  him  from  making  such  necessary  journeys  and  per- 
forming such  duties  as  are  necessary  or  incidental  to  the 
immediate  object  of  such  journey;  he  shall  there  preserve 
all  school  reports  of  this  state  and  of  other  states  which  he 
may  receive,  the  returns  from  the  various  towns,  and  insti- 
tutions of  learning  and  such  books,  apparatus,  maps,  charts, 
works  on  education,  plans  for  school  buildings,  models,  and 
other  articles  of  interest  to  school  officers  and  teachers  as 
may  be  procured  without  expense  to  the  state. 

Sec.  122.  Duties.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  100.  1915,  c.  198.  1919, 
c.  146.  In  addition  to  the  duties  elsewhere  specifically  im- 
posed on  him,  his  duties  are  as  follows : 

I.  To   exercise   a  general   supervision   of   all   the   public 
schools,  and  to  advise  and  direct  the  town  committees  and 
superintendents  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties,  by  circular 
letters  and  personal  conference,  devoting  all  his  time  to  the 
duties  of  his  office. 

II.  To  obtain   information  as  to  the   school  systems  of 
other  states  and  countries,  and  the  condition  and  progress 
of  public  school  education  throughout  the  world ;  to  dissemi- 
nate  this   information,  with   such   practical   hints   upon   the 
conduct  of  schools,  improved  systems  of  instruction,  and  the 
true   theory   of  education   as   observation   and   investigation 
convince  him  to  be  important,  by  public  addresses,  circulars 
and  articles  prepared  for  the  press,  and  by  outlines,   sug- 
gestions   and    directions    concerning   the   management,    dis- 
cipline and  methods  employed  in  teaching,  prepared  for  and 
distributed   among  the  teachers  of  the   schools   and   school 
officers  of  the  state;  and  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  awaken  and 
sustain  an  interest  in  education  among  the  people,  and  to 
stimulate  teachers  to  well  directed  efforts  in  their  work. 

III.  To  take   such   measures   as   he   deems   necessary   to 
secure  the  holding  of  a  state  educational  convention   once 
each  year,  with  a  view  of  bringing  together  the  teachers, 
school   committees,   school    superintendents,   and   friends   of 
education,  for  consultation  with  reference  to  the  interest  of 
public  schools  and  the  most  approved  method  of  instruction. 

IV.  To  encourage  the  formation  of  county  teachers'  asso- 


52  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

ciations,  approve  rules  of  government  therefor,  and  to  super- 
vise the  conduct  of  conventions  held  by  such  associations. 
He  shall  also  conduct  summer  training  schools  for  teachers, 
whenever  provision  is  made  by  the  legislature  for  holding 
such  schools. 

V.  To  prepare  and  cause  to  be  printed  and   distributed 
such  portions  of  the  proceedings  of  state  institutes  or  teach- 
ers' conventions  as  he  deems  important  in  the  furtherance  of 
education. 

VI.  Biennially,  as  soon  as  practicable  after  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  legislature,  to  compile  and  distribute,  in  pamph- 
let form,  to  the  municipal  and  school  officers  of  the  several 
towns,  three  thousand  copies  of  the  amended  school  laws  of 
the  state;  and  to  prepare  and  issue  thus  biennially,  such  cir- 
culars of  information  and  advice  to  school  officers,  relating 
to  new  school  enactments,  as  he  shall  deem  necessary  for  the 
intelligent  and  effectual  enforcement  of  such  enactments. 

VII.  To  prescribe  the  studies  to  be  taught  in  the  public 
schools  and  in  private  schools  approved  for  attendance  and 
tuition  purposes,  reserving  to  superintending  school  commit- 
tees, trustees  or  other  officers  in  charge  of  such  public  or 
private  schools  the  right  to  prescribe  additional  studies,  and 
the  course  of  study  prescribed  by  the  state  superintendent  of 
public  schools  shall  be  followed  in  all  public  schools  and  in  all 
private  schools  approved  by  the  state  superintendent  for  at- 
tendance or  tuition  purposes ;  provided,  however,  that  upon 
the  approval  by  the  state  superintendent  of  any  course  ar- 
ranged by  the  superintending  school  committee  of  any  town, 
or  by  the  trustees  or  other  officers  of  any  private  school,  said 
course  shall  be  the  authorized  course  for  said  town  or  private 
school ;  provided,  further,  that  the  basic  language  of  instruc- 
tion in  the  common  school  branches  in  all  schools,  public  and 
private,  shall  be  the  English  language.     Nothing  in  this  sec- 
tion shall  be  construed  to  prohibit  the  teaching  in  elementary 
schools  of  any  language  as  such. 

VIII.  To    furnish    to   the    school    officers    of    each    town. 
proper  blank   books   in   which   shall   be  kep't   complete   and 
itemized  records  of  all   matters   relating  to  moneys   appro- 
priated, received  and  expended  for  schools,  which  said  books 
shall  remain  the  property  of  the  state. 

IX.  To  assume  the  control  and  management  of  all  free 
public    schools   established   and   maintained   by   gifts   or   be- 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF   MAINE.  53 

quests,  when  said  gifts  or  bequests  are  conditioned  upon  said 
state  superintendent  assuming  such  control  and  manage- 
ment ;  and  he  shall  carry  out  the  provisions  upon  which  such 
gifts  or  bequests  are  conditioned,  when  said  conditions  are 
approved  by  the  governor  and  council. 

To  perform  all  duties  imposed  upon  him  by  any  char- 
ter or  charters  granted  by  the  legislature  to  educational  in- 
stitutions in  the  state. 

XT.  Annually,  to  report  to  the  governor  and  council 
the  result  of  his  inquiries  and  investigations,  and  the  facts 
obtained  from  the  school  returns,  with  such  suggestions  and 
recommendations  as  in  his  judgment  will  best  promote  the 
improvement  of  public  schools. 

Sec.  123.  Superintendent  to  furnish  blanks  for  fiscal  re- 
turns, and  return  list  of  towns  making  same.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
§  101.  The  state  superintendent  shall  prepare  and  furnish  to 
the  town  officers  such  blanks  as  he  deems  proper  to  secure 
the  fiscal  returns  required  in  section  thirty-one.  He  shall 
return  to  the  treasurer  of  state  on  the  first  day  of  July  an- 
nually, a  list  of  such  towns  as  have  made  such  fiscal  returns ; 
and  no  school  moneys  shall  be  paid  by  the  treasurer  of  state 
to  any  town,  so  long  as  it  neglects  to  make  such  returns. 

Sec.  124.  Superintendent  to  prepare  and  forward  blanks 
for  school  returns.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  102.  1913,  c.  99.  He  shall 
prepare  and  print  blank  forms  for  all  other  returns  required 
by  law,  or  deemed  by  him  necessary,  and  shall,  on  the  first 
day  of  each  March,  forward  to  the  superintendents  of  schools 
of  the  several  towns,  blanks  for  the  annual  school  return  as 
provided  in  section  fifty,  and  shall,  on  the  first  day  of  each 
May,  forward  to  said  superintendents  blanks  for  the  returns 
required  by  sectio'n  fifty-one. 

Sec.  125.  Notice  to  delinquent  committees.  R.  S.  c.  15, 
§  103.  He  shall,  on  the  first  day  of  each  June,  notify  the 
school  committee  of  any  town  whose  returns  were  not  re- 
ceived at  his  office  in  May,  and  shall,  annually,  ascertain  on 
the  first  day  of  July  the  number  of  children  between  five 
and  twenty-one  years  of  age,  in  the  towns  from  which  re- 
turns are  received,  and  furnish  a  list  thereof  to  the  treasurer 
of  state. 


54  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

State  Examinations  of  Teachers. 

Sec.  126.     State  examination  of  teachers.     1913,  c.  58,  §  1. 

The  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  shall  cause  to  be 
held  at  least  once  each  year  at  such  times  and  at  such  places 
as  he  may  designate,  public  examinations  of  candidates  for 
the  position  of  teachers  in  the  public  schools. 

Sec.  127.  Tests  required.  1913,  c.  58,  §  2.  The  examina- 
tion herein  provided  for  shall  test  the  professional  as  well  as 
the  scholastic  abilities  of  the  candidates  and  shall  be  con- 
ducted by  such  persons  or  agents  and  in  such  manner  as  the 
state  superintendent  may  determine.  Due  public  notices  of 
the  times,  places  and  other  conditions  of  the  examinations 
shall  be  given. 

Sec.  128.  Certificates  issued  by  state  superintendent; 
knowledge  of  physiology  and  hygiene  requisite.  Certificates 
may  be  granted  without  examination.  State  superintendent 
shall  prescribe  regulations.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  30,  If  11.  1913,  c. 
58,  §  3.  1915,  c.  74.  1919,  c.  69.  Certificates  of  qualifica- 
tion signed  by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools 
shall  be  granted  to  all  candidates  who  pass  satisfactory  ex- 
aminations in  such  branches  as  are  required  or  permitted 
by  law  to  be  taught  in  the  public  schools  and  who  in  other 
respects  fulfill  the  proper  requirements;  provided,  however. 
that  no  person  shall  be  eligible  for  a  certificate  unless  he 
is  at  least  seventeen  years  of  age  and  has  completed  not  less 
than  a  standard  secondary  school  course,  or  unless  he  shall 
present  satisfactory  evidence  of  such  educational  attainment 
otherwise  secured  as  may  be  adjudged  by  the  state  super- 
intendent of  public  schools  to  be  the  equivalent  of  said 
standard  secondary  school  course.  Such  certificate  shall  be 
either  probationary  or  permanent,  and  shall  indicate  the 
grade  of  schools  which  the  person  named  therein  is  qualified 
to  teach ;  provided,  however,  that  no  certificate  of  secondary 
grade  shall  be  granted  to  any  person  who  has  not  com- 
pleted the  equivalent  of  two  years  of  a  college  or  normal 
school  course.  No  certificate  shall  be  granted  to  any  person 
to  teach  in  the  public  schools  of  the  state,  who  has  not 
passed  a  satisfactory  examination  in  physiology  and  hygiene, 
with  special  reference  to  the  effects  of  alcoholic  drinks, 
stimulants  and  narcotics  upon  the  human  system.  Provided, 
however,  that  the  certificate  may  be  granted  without  the 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF   MAINE.  55 

examination  herein  prescribed  to  graduates  of  colleges  and 
Maine  state  normal  schools,  or  of  other  normal  training 
schools  having  a  two  years'  course  for  graduates  of  high 
schools  or  academies,  and  to  teachers  of  two  years'  service 
and  satisfactory  fitness,  on  the  presentation  of  such  evi- 
dence of  fitness  and  under  such  special  conditions  as  the 
state  superintendent  of  public  schools  may  prescribe.  Pro- 
vided, further,  that  certificates  may,  under  the  rules  pre- 
scribed by  the  state  superintendent,  be  granted  to  persons 
holding  state  certificates  granted  by  authority  of  other  states. 
Provided,  further,  that  any  certificate  granted  under  this 
or  any  preceding  law  may  for  sufficient  cause  be  revoked  and 
annulled. 

Sec.  129.  List  of  persons  certified  shall  be  kept.  1913,  c, 
58,  §  4.  A  list  of  persons  so  certified  shall  be  kept  in  the 
office  of  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  and  copies 
of  the  same  with  such  information  as  may  be  desired  shall 
be  sent  to  school  committees  and  superintendents  upon  their 
request. 

Sec.  130.  Persons  not  holding  state  certificate  shall  not  be 
employed.  1913,  c.  58,  §  5.  1919,  c.  69.  No  persons  shall 
be  employed  to  teach  in  any  school  under  the  supervision 
and  control  of  any  school  board  of  any  city,  town  or  planta- 
tion of  this  state,  who  does  not  hold  a  state  certificate  as 
herein  provided.  Provided,  however,  that  any  person  not 
holding  a  state  certificate  may  be  granted  not  more  than  one 
temporary  non-renewable  teaching  permit  for  a  period  not 
to  exceed  one  year,  such  permit  to  be  issued  upon  exami- 
nation by  the  superintendent  of  schools  of  the  town  in  which 
such  person  is  employed  and  the  form  of  such  permit,  in- 
dicating the  grade  of  school  for  which  it  is  to  be  issued,  shall 
be  prepared  by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools 
and  shall  be  furnished  by  him  upon  application  of  the  super- 
intendent of  schools  of  any  town.  No  person  shall  be  eligible 
to  a  teaching  permit  unless  he  shall  meet  the  requirements 
of  section  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  in  relation  to  age 
and  educational  preparation.  Provided,  further,  that  all 
state  certificates  heretofore  granted  shall  continue  in  force 
in  accordance  with  the  terms  stated  therein.  The  state 
superintendent  of  schools  is  hereby  authorized  to  formulate 
all  rules  and  regulations  necessary  for  the  carrying  out  of 


SCHOOL  LAWS   OF   MAINE. 

the   provisions    of   this    section    and    of   the    four   preceding 
sections. 

Sec.  131.  Penalty  for  teaching  without  certificate.  1913, 
c.  58,  §  6.  Whoever  teaches  a  public  school  without  first 
obtaining  a  state  teachers'  certificate  or  a  temporary  teach- 
ing permit  as  herein  provided,  forfeits  not  exceeding  the  sum 
contracted  for  his  daily  wages,  for  each  day  he  so  teaches 
and  is  barred  from  receiving  pay  therefor. 

Sec.  132.  Appropriation.  1913,  c.  58,  §  7.  For  the  neces- 
sary expenses  of  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  the  six  pre- 
ceding sections  there  may  be  annually  expended  the  sum  of 
one  thousand  dollars,  which  sum  the  treasurer  of  state  shall 
deduct  for  said  purpose  from  any  school  money  raised  for 
the  support  of  common  schools. 

Industrial  Education. 

Sec.  133.  Duty  of  state  superintendent  of  public  schools, 
1911,  c.  188,  §  1.  The  state  superintendent  of  public  schools 
shall  be  charged  with  the  duty  of  extending  the  investiga- 
tion of  methods  of  industrial  education ;  he  shall  advise  and 
aid  in  the  introduction  of  industrial  courses  into  free  high 
schools  and  academies  aided  by  the  state  and  shall  report 
on  all  special  schools  in  which  industrial  education  is  pro- 
vided. He  shall  inspect  the  courses  of  study  offered  in  such 
free  high  schools  and  academies  and  he  shall  have  authority 
to  approve  such  courses  in  all  schools  aided  by  the  state. 

Sec.  134.  Manual  training  shall  be  introduced  into  all 
normal  schools.  1911,  c.  188,  §  2.  1913,  c.  37,  §  1.  The  trus- 
tees of  the  state  normal  schools  shall  cause  to  be  introduced 
into  all  of  the  said  normal  schools  such  courses  in  manual 
arts,  domestic  science  and  agriculture  as  will  enable  their 
graduates  to  teach  elementary  courses  in  those  subjects  in 
the  rural  and  grade  schools.  In  not  more  than  one  of  said 
schools  the  course  in  manual  training  shall  be  so  extended 
as  to  offer  opportunity  to  persons  desiring  to  qualify  as 
special  teachers  of  that  branch,  and  in  not  more  than  one  the 
course  in  domestic  science  shall  be  so  extended  as  to  offer 
similar  opportunity  to  persons  desiring  to  qualify  as  special 
teachers  thereof.  For  the  two  special  courses  thus  offered 
the  trustees  are  authorized  to  expend  annually  not  to  exceed 
six  thousand  dollars,  which  shall  be  additional  to  other  sums 
appropriated  for  the  support  of  said  normal  sch™1s  and 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF   MAINE.  59 

of  schools.  1911,  c.  188,  §  7.  The  superintending  school  com- 
mittee of  any  town  when  authorized  by  vote  of  the  town 
shall  establish  and  maintain  as  a  part  of  the  public  school 
system  of  such  town  a  general  industrial  school  for  the 
teaching  of  agriculture,  household  science,  the  mechanic  arts 
and  the  trades.  Such  general  industrial  schools  shall  be 
open  to  pupils  who  have  completed  the  elementary  school 
course  or  who  have  attained  the  age  of  fifteen  years.  The 
authority  and  duties  of  the  superintending  school  committee 
and  of  the  superintendent  of  schools  in  relation  to  such  in- 
dustrial schools  shall  be  the  same  as  in  the  case  of  the  com- 
mon and  high  schools,  but  the  support  of  such  schools  shall 
be  derived  from  funds  raised  in  addition  to  any  sums  appro- 
priated for  the  support  of  common  and  high  schools.  When- 
ever it  shall  be  made  to  appear  to  the  governor  and  council 
that  any  town  has  provided  instruction  in  the  trades  and 
industries  in  a  general  industrial  school  maintained  therein 
for  a  period  of  thirty-six  weeks  during  the  school  year,  and 
employing  at  least  one  teacher  whose  work  is  devoted  ex- 
clusively to  such  instruction,  and  having  an  average  attend- 
ance of  at  least  twenty  pupils,  the  governor  and  council  shall 
direct  the  treasurer  of  state  to  pay  to  the  treasurer  of  such 
town  a  sum  equal  to  two-thirds  the  total  amount  spent  for 
instruction  in  said  school,  provided  that  not  more  than  two 
thousand  dollars  shall  be  paid  by  the  state  to  any  one  town 
in  any  year. 

Sec.  139.  Deduction  from  school  and  mill  fund;  reports 
to  the  state  superintendent  of  schools.  1911,  c.  188,  §  8. 
1913,  c.  37,  §  2.  1915,  c.  143.  1917,  c.  77.  1919,  c.  87.  For 
the  purposes  of  the  seven  preceding  sections  there  shall  be 
deducted  by  the  treasurer  of  state  from  the  school  and  mill 
fund  the  sum  of  seventy-five  thousand  dollars  for  the  year 
nineteen  hundred  and  nineteen  and  eighty  thousand  dollars 
for  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  twenty  and  any  unex- 
pended balance  of  this  amount  shall  be  added  to  the  per- 
manent school  fund.  All  reports  required  under  said  sections 
shall  be  filed  annually  with  the  state  superintendent  of 
public  schools  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  July,  and  state 
aid  shall  be  payable  during  the  month  of  December  next 
succeeding. 


60  SCHOOL   LAWS   OF   MAINE. 

Normal  Schools,  and  Madawaska  Training  School. 

Sec.  140.  Five  normal  schools.  Their  objects.  R.  S.  c. 
15,  §  109.  P.  &  S.  L.  1905,  c.  313.  1909,  c.  44.  1913,  c.  109, 

§  1.  The  Northern  Normal  School  at  Farmington,  the  East- 
ern Normal  School  at  Castine,  the  Western  Normal  School 
at  Gorham,  the  Washington  State  Normal  School  at  Ma- 
chias,  and  the  Aroostook  State  Normal  School  at  Presque 
Isle,  shall  be  conducted  for  the  purposes  and  upon  the  prin- 
ciples herein  set  forth. 

I.  They  shall  be  thoroughly  devoted   to  the   training  of 
teachers  for  their  professional  labors. 

II.  The  course  of  study  shall  include  the  common  Kng- 
lish  branches  in  thorough  reviews,  and  such  of  the  higher 
branches   as   are   especially   adapted   to   prepare   teachers   to 
conduct  the  mental,  moral  and  physical  education  of  their 
pupils. 

III.  The  art  of  school  management,   including  the   best 
methods  of  government  and  instruction,  shall  have  a  promi- 
nent place  in  the  daily  exercises  of  said  schools. 

IV.  Said  schools,  while  teaching  the  fundamental  truths 
of  Christianity,  and  the  great  principles  of  morality,  recog- 
nized by  law,  shall  be  free  from  all  denominational  teach- 
ings, and  open  to  persons  of  different  religious  connections 
on  terms  of  equality. 

V.  The  principals  of  the  normal  schools  and  of  all  other 
schools  in  which  normal  departments  are  supported,  wholly 
or  in  part,  by  the  state,  shall  keep  a  register  containing  the 
names  of  all  students  entering  such  schools  or  departments, 
the  date  of  entering  and  leaving,  their  ages,  number  of  days' 
attendance,  the  length  of  the  term,  a  list  of  textbooks  used 
and  all  other  information  required  in  the  blanks  furnished  by 
the  state  superintendent.     Such  register  and  blanks  shall  be 
returned   to    said   superintendent   by   the   first   day   of   each 
December,  and  the  information  so  furnished  shall  appear  in 
his  annual  report,  for  the  use  of  the  legislature. 

Sec.  141.  Courses  of  study.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  110.  1915,  c. 
91.  The  course  of  study  shall  occupy  two  years  with  suit- 
able vacations,  and,  with  the  terms  of  admission,  shall  be 
arranged  by  said  superintendent.  The  trustees  may  arrange 
for  a  course  of  study,  occupying  three  or  four  years,  for  such 
students  as  elect  to  pursue  the  same,  and  they  may  give  such 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE.  61 

credit  as  they  may  deem  advisable  for  successful  teaching- 
experience. 

Sec.  142.  Diplomas  to  be  issued.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  111.  Any 
student  who  completes  the  course  of  study  prescribed,  and 
otherwise  complies  with  the  regulations  of  the  school,  shall 
receive  a  diploma  certifying  the  same. 

Sec.  143.  Applicants  for  admission,  qualification;  tuition. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  112.  1909,  c.  27.  1917,  c.  247.  Applicants  for 
admission  shall  be  sixteen  years  of  age  if  females,  and  seven- 
teen if  males,  and  shall  signify  their  intention  to  become 
teachers  and  come  under  obligation  to  teach  in  this  state  for 
at  least  one  year,  and  if  they  receive  a  diploma,  the  first  two 
years  of  teaching  after  they  have  graduated ;  on  these  condi- 
tions they  shall  be  received  without  charge  for  tuition,  other- 
wise they  shall  pay  tuition  at  the  rate  of  fifty  dollars  per 
year. 

Sec.  144.  Trustees  of  normal  schools,  their  appointment, 
powers  and  duties.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  113.  1905,  c.  11.  1909,  c. 
103.  1913,  c.  109,  §  2.  Said  schools  shall  be  under  the  direc- 
tion of  a  board  of  five  trustees,  four  of  whom  shall  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  governor  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the 
council,  for  terms  of  four  years,  and  not  more  than  two  of 
the  four  appointed  members  shall  be  of  the  same  political 
party.  The  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  is,  by  vir- 
tue of  his  office,  a  member  of  the  said  board  of  normal  school 
trustees.  Said  board  shall  have  charge  of  the  general  inter- 
ests of  said  schools;  shall  see  that  the  affairs  thereof  are 
conducted  as  required  by  law  and  by  such  by-laws  as  the 
board  adopt ;  employ  teachers  and  lecturers  for  the  same ; 
and,  annually,  on  the  first  day  of  December  lay  before  the 
governor  and  council,  for  the  information  of  the  legislature, 
a  financial  statement,  furnishing  an  accurate  detailed  account 
of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  for  the  school  year  preced- 
ing. 

105  Me.  220. 

Note.  Authorized  to  take  land  for  building  for  use  of  Western 
Normal  School,  at  Gorham,  P.  &  S.  L.  1913.  c.  47. 

Sec.  145.  Madawaska  Training  School.  R.  S.  c.  15,  § 
114.  The  trustees  of  state  normal  schools  shall  maintain 
for  not  less  than  eight  months  annually,  the  Madawaska 
Training  School,  at  Fort  Kent,  for  the  purpose  of  training- 
persons  to  teach  in  the  common  schools  of  Madawaska  terri- 


62  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF   MAINE. 

tory,  so  called,  which  school  shall  be  under  their  control 
and  direction,  in  the  same  manner  and  to  the  same  extent 
as  the  other  state  normal  schools. 

Sec.  146.  Appropriation  for  normal  and  training  schools. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  115.  1909,  c.  106.  1911,  c.  186.  1913,  c.  45. 
1915,  c.  175.  1917,  c.  64.  1919,  c.  149.  For  the  support  of 
the  five  normal  schools  and  Madawaska  Training  School, 
the  sum  of  one  hundred  twenty-seven  thousand  dollars  is 
annually  appropriated,  to  be  expended  under  the  direction 
of  said  trustees,  which  sum  the  treasurer  of  state  shall  de- 
duct for  said  purpose  from  any  school  money  raised  for  the 
support  of  common  schools.  The  governor  and  council  may 
from  time  to  time,  as  they  think  proper,  draw  warrants 
therefor  on  said  treasurer  in  favor  of  said  trustees. 


Instruction  for  the  Blind. 

Sec.  147.  Blind  children  may  be  sent  to  Perkins  Institute ; 
no  distinction  made  on  account  of  wealth  or  poverty;  ex- 
penses paid  by  state.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  116.  1913,  c.  46.  Upon 
the  request  of  the  parents  or  guardians,  the  governor  may, 
with  the  approval  of  the  council,  send  such  blind  children 
as  he  may  deem  fit  subjects  for  education,  for  a  term  not 
exceeding  ten  years,  and  thereafter  in  the  discretion  of  the 
governor  and  council,  in  the  case  of  any  pupil,  to  the  Perkins 
Institute  for  the  Blind  at  Watertown,  Massachusetts,  pro- 
vided, however,  that  when  the  authorities  in  charge  of  said 
Perkins  Institute  for  the  blind  shall  refuse  for  any  reason  to 
admit  such  blind  children  to  said  institute  then  the  governor 
may,  with  the  approval  of  the  council,  send  such  children  so 
refused  to  any  institution  for  the  blind  wherever  located. 
In  the  exercise  of  the  discretionary  power  conferred  by  this 
section,  no  distinction  shall  be  made  on  account  of  the 
wealth  or  poverty  of  the  parents  or  guardians  of  such  chil- 
dren. No  such  pupil  shall  be  withdrawn  from  such  institu- 
tion except  with  the  consent  of  the  proper  authorities  thereof 
or  of  the  governor;  and  the  sums  necessary  for  the  support 
and  instruction  of  such  pupils  in  such  institution,  including 
all  traveling  expenses  of  such  pupils  attending  such  institu- 
tion shall  be  paid  by  the  state ;  provided,  however,  that  noth- 
ing herein  contained  shall  be  held  to  prevent  the  voluntary 


SCHOOL  LAWS   OF   MAINE.  63 

payment  of  the  whole  or  any  part  of  such  sums  by  the  par- 
ents or  guardians  of  such  pupils. 

Penal  Provisions  Affecting  Schools. 

Sec.   148.     Forfeitures,  how  recovered  and  appropriated; 
penalty,  if  town  neglects  to  expend  money.     R.  S.  c.  15,  § 

117.  Forfeitures  under  this  chapter,  not  otherwise  provided 
for  may  be  recovered  by  indictment,  and  shall  be  paid  into 
the  treasury  of  the  town  where  they  occurred,  for  the  sup- 
port of  schools  therein,  in  addition  to  the  amount  required 
by  law  to  be  raised ;  but  the  costs  of  prosecution  shall  be 
paid  into  the  county  treasury ;  any  town  neglecting  for  one 
year,  so  to  expend  such  money,  forfeits  an  equal  sum  to  any 
person  suing  therefor  in  an  action  of  debt. 

Sec.   149.     Penalty  for  disturbing  schools.     R.  S.  c.  15,  § 

118.  Whoever,  whether  a  scholar  or  not,  enters  any  school- 
house  or  other  place  of  instruction,  during  or  out  of  school 
hours,  while  the  teacher  or  any  pupil  is  present,  and  wilfully 
interrupts  or  disturbs  the  teacher  or  pupils  by  loud  speak- 
ing, rude  or  indecent  behavior,  signs  or  gestures,  or  wilfully 
interrupts  a  school  by  prowling  about  the  building,  making 
noise?,  throwing  missiles  at  the  schoolhouse,  or  in  any  way 
disturbing  the   school,   forfeits   not   less  than   two,   or  more 
than   twenty   dollars,   to   be    recovered   as   aforesaid,   or   on 
complaint. 

27  Me.  278;    :n  Me.  197. 

Sec.  150.  Parents  of  guardians  liable  in  double  damages 
for  injuries.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  119.  If  a  minor  injures  or  aids 
in  injuring  any  schoolhouse,  outbuildings,  utensils  or  appur- 
tenances belonging  thereto;  defaces  the  walls,  benches,  seats 
or  other  parts  of  said  buildings  by  marks,  cuts  or  otherwise; 
or  injures  or  destroys  any  school  property  belonging  to  a 
town,  such  town  by  an  attendance  officer  thereof,  may  re- 
cover of  his  parent  or  guardian,  in  an  action  of  debt,  double 
the  damage  occasioned  thereby. 

Sec.  151.  Penalty  for  defacing  schoolhouses,  outbuildings. 
R.  S.  c.  15,  §  120.  Whoever  defaces  the  walls,  benches, 
seats,  blackboards  or  other  parts  of  any  schoolhouse  or  out- 
buildings belonging  thereto,  by  obscene  pictures,  language, 
marks  or  descriptions,  shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  ten  dol- 
lars, on  complaint  made  within  one  year. 

See  c.  126,  §  23. 


64  SCHOOL   LAWS   OF   MAINE. 

Sec.  152.  Innholders,  stable  keepers,  and  certain  others, 
not  to  give  credit  to  students.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  121.  If  an  inn- 
holder,  confectioner,  or  keeper  of  a  shop,  boarding-house,  or 
livery  stable,  gives  credit  for  food,  drink  or  horse  or  carriage 
hire,  to  any  pupil  of  a  college  or  literary  institution  in  vio- 
lation of  its  rules,  he  forfeits  a  sum  equal  to  the  amount  so 
credited,  whether  it  has  been  paid  or  not,  to  be  recovered 
in  an  action  of  debt  by  the  treasurer  of  such  institution  ; 
half  to  its  use;  and  half  to  the  town  where  it  is  located;  and 
no  person  shall  be  licensed  by  the  municipal  officers  for  anv 
of  said  employments,  if  it  appears  that  within  the  preceding 
year  he  had  given  credit  contrary  to  the  provisions  hereof. 

State  School  Funds. 

Sec.  153.  Permanent  school  fund.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  122.  'Hie 
treasurer  of  state  shall  keep  a  separate  account  of  all  moneys 
received  from  sales  of  lands  appropriated  for  the  support  of 
schools  or  from  notes  taken  therefor,  and  of  any  other 
moneys  appropriated  for  the  same  purpose ;  and  such  sum 
shall  constitute  a  permanent  school  fund,  which  may  be  put 
at  interest  as  the  legislature  directs.  A  sum  equal  to  six 
per  cent  of  the  amount  of  such  fund,  and  one-half  the  sum 
received  by  the  state  from  the  tax  on  the  franchises  of  sav- 
ings banks,  and  one-half  the  sum  assessed  upon  the  deposits 
of  trust  and  banking  companies,  shall  be  annually  appro- 
priated to  the  support  of  common  schools,  and  after  the 
deduction  therefrom  of  ail  funds  which  the  treasurer  of  state 
is  by  law  authorized  to  deduct,  the  balance  shall  be  dis- 
tributed among  the  several  towns  according  to  the  number 
of  children  therein  between  five  and  twenty-one  years  of  age. 

See  §§  132.  139,  166,  176;     c.  9,  §§  60,  72.  73;     73  Me.  126;     109  Me.  172. 

Sec.  154.  Treasurer  to  apportion  school  funds ;  basis 
when  returns  are  not  received ;  school  funds  not  to  be  paid 
until  return  is  made.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  123.  The  treasurer  shall. 
immediately  after  the  first  day  of  July,  apportion  to  the 
towns  all  the  state  school  funds  for  the  year,  according  to 
the  list  of  children  furnished  by  the  state  superintendent  of 
public  schools,  as  provided  in  section  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five.  The  number  of  scholars  belonging  to  a  town 
from  which  either  the  school  committee  or  the  municipal 
authorities  have  failed  to  make  the  returns  required  by  law. 


SCHOOL  LAWS   OF   MAINE.  65 

shall  be  reckoned  by  taking  the  number  used  as  the  basis 
of  the  last  apportionment,  and  deducting  all  scholars  set 
off  in  other  towns,  or  incorporated  into  a  new  town  within 
a  year,  and  one-tenth  of  the  remainder,  and  the  residue  shall 
be  the  basis  of  the  new  apportionment.  Immediately  after 
making  the  apportionment,  the  treasurer  shall  notify  each 
town  of  its  proportion;  which  shall  not  be  paid  to  any  town 
until  its  returns,  both  common  school  and  fiscal,  are  made 
to  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  nor  so  long  as 
any  state  tax  assessed  upon  such  town  remains  unpaid. 
See  §§  16,  50. 

School  Mill  Fund. 

Sec.  155.     Mill  tax.     R.  S.  c.  15,  §  124.     1907,  c.  Ill,  §  2. 

A  tax  of  one  and  one-half  mills  on^a  dollar  shall  annually 
be  assessed  upon  all  the  property  in  the  state,  according  to 
the  valuation  thereof,  and  shall  be  known  as  the  mill  tax 
for  the  support  of  common  schools. 

68  Me.  582,  586;     73  Me.  126;     109  Me.  172. 

Sec.  156.  Assessment  and  collection.  R.  S.  c.  15,  §  125. 
This  tax  shall  be  assesse4  and  collected  in  the  same  manner 
as  other  state  taxes,  and  be  paid  into  the  state  treasury  and 
designated  as  the  school  mill  fund. 

7:5  Me.  126. 

Sec.  157.     Distribution.     R.  S.  c.  15,  §  126.     1915,  c.  150, 

§  1.  This  fund  shall  be  distributed  by  the  treasurer  of  state 
on  the  first  day  of  December,  annually,  to  the  several  cities, 
towns  and  plantations  according  to  the  number  of  scholars 
therein,  as  the  same  shall  appear  from  the  official  return 
made  to  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  for  the 
preceding  year. 

See  §§  332,  139.  166,  176. 

Sec.  158.     Unexpended  balance.     R.  S.  c.  15,  §  127.     All 

of  the  school  mill  fund  not  distributed  or  expended  during 
the  financial  year  shall  at  its  close  be  added  to  the  permanent 
school  fund. 

73  Me.  126. 

Common   School  Fund. 

Sec.  159.  Tax  for  support  of  common  schools.  1909,  c. 
177,  §  1.  A  tax  of  one  and  one-half  mills  on  a  dollar  shall 
annually  be  assessed  upon  all  of  the  property  in  the  state 


66  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

according  to  the  valuation  thereof  and  shall  be  known  as  the 
tax  for  the  support  of  the  common  schools. 

.!«)!•  Me.  J7J. 

Sec.  160.  Assessment.  1909,  c.  177,  §  2.  This  tax  shall 
be  assessed  and  collected  in  the  same  manner  as  other  state 
taxes  and  shall  be  paid  into  the  state  treasury  and  designated 
as  the  common  school  fund. 

109  Me.  171. 

Sec.  161.     Distribution.     1909,  c.  177,  §  3.    1915,  c.  150,  §  2. 

One-third  of  this  fund  shall  be  distributed  by  the  treasurer 
of  state  on  the  first  day  of  December,  annually,  to  the  sev- 
eral cities,  towns  and  plantations  according  to  the  number 
of  scholars  therein,  as  the  same  shall  appear  from  the  offi- 
cial returns  made  to  the  state  superintendent  of  public 
schools  for  the  preceding  year,  and  the  remaining  two-thirds 
of  said  fund  shall  be  distributed  by  the  treasurer  of  state  on 
the  first  day  of  December,  annually,  to  the  several  cities, 
towns  and  plantations  according  to  the  valuation  thereof  as 
the  same  shall  be  fixed  by  the  state  assessors,  for  the  pre- 
ceding year. 
101)  Me.  171. 

Sec.  162.  Unexpended  fund.  1909,  c.  177,  §  4.  All  of  said 
fund  not  distributed  or  expended  during  the  financial  year, 
shall  at  its  close,  be  added  to  the  permanent  school  fund. 

KW  Ale.  171.. 

Sec.  163.  Expenditure  of  money  for  common  schools. 
1909,  c.  177,  §  5.  All  moneys  provided  by  towns,  or  appor- 
tioned by  the  state  for  the  support  of  common  schools,  shall 
be  expended  for  the  maintenance  of  common  schools,  estab- 
lished and  controlled  by  the  towns  by  which  said  moneys 
are  provided,  or  to  which  said  moneys  are  apportioned. 

109  Me.  171. 

Sec.  164.  Money  received  by  towns  within  §  16.  1909,  c. 
177,  §  6.  Sums  received  by  any  city,  town  or  plantation  from 
the  distribution  provided  by  section  one  hundred  sixty-one, 
shall  be  deemed  to  be  raised  by  such  city,  town  or  plantation 
within  the  meaning  of  section  sixteen  of  this  chapter. 

109  Me.  171. 

Sec.  165.  Sections  155-158  not  affected.  1909,  c.  177,  §  7. 
The  six  preceding  sections  shall  not  affect  the  provisions  of 
sections  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  to  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
eight,  both  inclusive,  of  this  chapter. 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE.  67 

School  Equalization  Fund. 

Sec.  166.  School  equalization  fund  set  aside.  1909,  c.  198, 
§  1.  1911,  c.  192,  §  1.  1913,  c.  182.  1915,  c.  265.  The  treas- 
urer of  state  shall  immediately  after  the  first  day  of  July 
annually  deduct  the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  from  the 
state  school  funds  and  the  same  shall  be  set  aside  and  de- 
nominated the  school  equalization  fund  which  shall  be  used 
in  the  manner  hereinafter  designated  for  the  purpose  of  aid- 
ing those  towns  wherein  a  rate  of  taxation  considerably  in 
excess  of  the  average  rate  for  the  state  fails  to  produce  a 
school  revenue  sufficient  to  secure  a  reasonable  standard  of 
educational  efficiency ;  provided,  that  the  rate  of  taxation 
hereinbefore  named  for  the  purposes  of  this  section  and  the 
two  following  sections  shall  be  reckoned  on  the  basis  of  the 
amount  actually  raised  by  taxation  by  the  town  for  the  sup- 
port of  common  schools,  exclusive  of  any  amounts  received 
from  the  state ;  provided  further  that  no  town  shall  receive 
an  apportionment  of  the  school  equalization  fund  unless  its 
municipal  tax  rate  for  all  purposes  shall  be  in  excess  of  the 
average  of  such  rates  for  all  the  towns  of  the  state. 

Sec.  167.  Special  investigation  by  state  superintendent  of 
schools;  special  aid  for  raising  standard  or  qualifications  of 
teachers.  1909,  c.  198,  §  2.  1911,  c.  192,  §  2.  The  state 
superintendent  of  public  schools  shall  cause  a  special  investi- 
gation to  be  made  of  the  educational  facilities  of  such  towns 
as  are  included  under  the  preceding  section  and,  whenever 
it  appears  to  the  state  superintendent  that  any  town  should 
receive  special  aid  or  encouragement  for  the  purpose  of  rais- 
ing the  standard  of  qualifications  of  common  school  teachers 
or  of  increasing  the  length  of  the  school  year  or  otherwise 
adding  to  the  efficiency  of  the  common  schools,  he  shall  issue 
to  the  governor  and  council  a  recommendation  relative  there- 
to, and  the  governor  and  council  may  draw  a  warrant  in 
favor  of  the  treasurer  of  said  town  for  the  payment  from  the 
equalization  fund  of  a  sum  which  shall  be  expended  under 
the  direction  of  the  superintending  school  committee  of  said 
town  in  accordance  with  the  recommendation  as  made  by 
the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  and  within  the 
purposes  of  this  section  and  the  preceding  section.  The 
state  superintendent  of  public  schools  may  expend  for  the 
special  investigation  of  educational  facilities  as  herein  pro- 


68  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

vided  a  sum  not  to  exceed  two  thousand  dollars,  which  shall 
be  deducted  from  the  equalization  fund ;  he  shall  annually 
publish  in  his  printed  report  a  complete  statement  relative  to 
all  disbursements  as  provided  in  this  section  and  the  preced- 
ing section. 

Sec.  168.  Fund  not  expended,  how  disposed  of.  1909,  c. 
198,  §  3.  All  of  the  school  equalization  fund  not  distributed 
nor  expended  during  the  financial  year  shall  at  its  close  be 
added  to  the  permanent  school  fund. 

Funds  arising  from  sales  of  timber  and  grass  on  reserved  lots,  how 
and  when  applied  to  support  of  schools,  c.  8,  §  21. 

Instruction  in  forestry  in  public  schools,  academies  and  colleges,  c.  8, 
§  56. 

,     Teachers'  Pensions. 

Sec.  169.  Teachers  who  may  be  entitled  to  an  annual  pen- 
sion of  $250.  1913,  c.  75,  §  1.  Any  person  of  either  sex  who, 
on  the  thirtieth  day  of  September,  nineteen  hundred  thirteen, 
or  thereafter,  shall  have  reached  the  age  of  sixty  years  and 
who  for  thirty-five  years  shall  have  been  engaged  in  teaching 
as  his  principal  occupation,,  and  who  shall  have  been  em- 
ployed as  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools,  or  in  such  other 
schools  within  this  state  as  are  supported  wholly  or  at  least 
three-fifths  by  state  or  town  appropriation  and  are  under 
public  management  and  control,  twenty  years  of  which  em- 
ployment, including  the  fifteen  years  immediately  preceding 
retirement,  shall  have  been  in  this  state,  and  who  shall  be 
retired  by  his  employer  or  shall  voluntarily  retire  from  active 
service  after  completion  of  the  school  year  next  preceding  the 
thirtieth  day  of  September,  nineteen  hundred  thirteen,  shall, 
on  his  formal  application,  receive  from  the  state  for  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  an  annual  pension  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars;  provided,  however,  that  after  the  thirtieth  day 
of  September,  nineteen  hundred  thirteen,  no  such  employ- 
ment as  teacher  within  this  state  shall  be  included  in  its 
provisions  unless  the  teacher  shall  hold  a  state  teachers' 
certificate  issued  under  the  authority  of  the  state  superin- 
tendent of  public  schools. 

Sec.  170.  Teachers  who  may  receive  an  annual  pension 
of  $200.  1913,  c.  75,  §  2.  Any  person  of  either  sex  who,  on 
the  thirtieth  day  of  September,  nineteen  hundred  thirteen,  or 
thereafter,  shall  have  reached  the  age  of  sixty  years  and  who 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF   MAINE.  69 

for  thirty  years  shall  have  been  engaged  in  teaching  as  his 
principal  occupation  and  who  shall  have  in  all  other  respects 
met  the  requirements  of  the  preceding  section  shall,  on  his 
formal  application,  receive  from  the  state  for  the  remainder 
of  his  life  an  annual  pension  of  two  hundred  dollars. 

Sec.  171.  Teachers  who  may  receive  an  annual  pension 
of  $150.  1913,  c.  75,  §  3.  Any  person  of  either  sex  who,  on 
the  thirtieth  day  of  September,  nineteen  hundred  thirteen, 
or  thereafter,  shall  have  reached  the  age  of  sixty  years  who 
for  twenty-five  years  shall  have  been  engaged  in  teaching 
as  his  principal  occupation,  and  who  shall  have  in  all  other 
respects  met  the  requirements  of  section  one  hundred  sixty- 
nine  shall,  on  his  formal  applicatiom,  receive  from  the  state 
for  the  remainder  of  his  life  an  annual  pension  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars. 

Sec.  172.  Teachers  who  may  receive  half  pension.  1913, 
c.  75,  §  4.  Any  person  who  otherwise  meets  the  requirements 
of  the  three  preceding  sections,  but  shall  have  retired  or  shall 
have  been  retired  prior  to  the  school  year  next  preceding  the 
thirtieth  day  of  September,  nineteen  hundred  thirteen,  shall 
be  entitled  to  receive  a  pension  under  the  provisions  of  this 
section  and  the  three  preceding  sections,  except  that  the 
amount  of  the  pension  allowed  to  such  person  shall  be  one- 
half  of  any  amount  designated  under  the  foregoing  sections. 

Sec.  173.  State  superintendent  shall  certify  persons  en- 
titled to  pensions;  suspension  of  payment  when  person  re- 
sumes teaching.  1913,  c.  75,  §  7.  On  or  before  the  thirty- 
first  day  of  December,  nineteen  hundred  and  thirteen,  and 
quarterly  thereafter,  the  state  superintendent  of  public 
schools  shall  certify  to  the  governor  and  council  the  names 
of  the  persons  who  are  entitled  to  pensions  under  the  pro- 
visions of  the  preceding  sections  and  the  amounts  thereof, 
and  the  governor  and  council  shall  draw  warrants  on  the 
treasurer  of  state  for  payments  from  the  school  pension  fund 
in  favor  of  said  persons  for  said  amounts.  The  payments  of 
any  pension  shall  be  suspended  whenever  the  person  to 
whom  said  pension  has  been  granted  resumes  teaching  in 
any  private  or  public  school. 

Sec.  174.  Pensions  are  exempt  from  claims  of  creditors. 
1913,  c.  75,  §  8.  All  pensions  granted  or  payable  under  the 
provisions  of  the  five  preceding  sections  shall  be  and  are 
hereby  made  exempt  from  levy  and  sale  by  virtue  of  »« 


70  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

execution  and  from  all  process  and  proceeding  to  enjoin  and 
recover  the  same  by  or  on  behalf  of  any  creditor  or  person 
having  or  asserting  any  claim  against,  or  debt  or  liability  of 
a  teacher  or  pensioner. 

Sec.  175.  State  superintendent  shall  formulate  rules. 
1913,  c.  75,  §  6.  The  state  superintendent  of  public  schools 
shall  formulate  rules  and  regulations  for  carrying  into  effect 
the  provisions  of  the  six  preceding  sections. 

Sec.  176.  Appropriation.  1913,  c.  75,  §  5.  1917,  c.  79. 
1919,  c.  91.  For  the  purposes  of  the  seven  preceding  sections 
the  sum  of  thirty  thousand  dollars  is  annually  appropriated, 
which  sum  the  treasurer  of  state  shall  deduct  for  said  pur- 
poses out  of  the  school  and  mill  funds  and  the  sum  so  appro- 
priated and  deducted  shall  be  denominated  the  school  pension 
fund. 

Sec.  177.  Unexpended  fund  added  to  school  fund.  1913, 
c.  75,  §  9.  All  of  said  school  pension  fund  not  distributed  or 
expended  for  any  financial  year,  shall,  on  the  first  day  of  July 
next  following,  be  added  to  the  permanent  school  fund. 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE.  71 

AN  ACT  TO  PROVIDE  FOR  THE  REGISTRATION  OF 

TEACHERS. 

(Chap.  137,  P.  L.  1917.) 

Section  1.  Any  person  holding-  a  state  teacher's  certificate 
and  any  person  holding  a  temporary  teaching  permit,  or 
eligible  to  receive  such  a  permit  may,  upon  the  payment  of 
three  dollars,  and  upon  application  to  the  state  superintend- 
ent of  public  schools  in  such  manner  as  may  be  prescribed 
by  him,  register  as  a  candidate  for  employment  as  a  teacher 
in  the  public  schools  within  the  state.  It  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  to  furnish  to 
superintending  .  school  committees  or  superintendents  of 
schools,  upon  request,  information  relative  to  persons  regis- 
tered as  hereinbefore  provided,  and  to  furnish  persons  thus 
registered  information  relative  to  vacancies  in  positions  in 
public  schools  within  the  state;  but  neither  the  state  super- 
intendent of  public  schools  nor  any  person  employed  under 
his  direction  shall  be  held  responsible  for,  nor  be  understood 
to  vouch  for  the  fitness  or  success  of  any  teacher  who  may 
secure  a  position  in  a  public  school  through  the  operation 
of  this  section,  nor  shall  the  acceptance  of  this  enrollment 
and  the  payment  of  the  required  fee  be  construed  as  a  guar- 
antee for  securing  employment  as  a  teacher.  The  payment 
of  the  above  fee  shall  entitle  the  person  registering  to  the 
benefit  of  such  registration  for  a  period  of  three  years. 

Sec.  2.  The  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  shall 
make  the  necessary  rules  and  regulations  for  carrying  out 
the  provisions  of  section  one  of  this  act  and  for  obtaining 
whatever  information  is  required  as  to  the  experience,  quali- 
fications and  character  of  persons  seeking  employment  as 
teachers,  and  a  teacher  shall  be  entitled  to  consideration  for 
employment  only  so  long  as 'he  complies  with  such  rules  and 
regulations.  He  shall  employ  such  clerical  and  other  assist- 
ants as  may  be  required  and  they  shall  perform  their  duties 
under  the  general  supervision  of  said  superintendent.  He 
shall  collect  and  receipt  for  all  registration  fees,  and  report 
and  pay  said  fees  to  the  treasurer  of  state  once  in  each 
month.  He  shall  furnish  to  the  state  a  surety  bond  in  sum 
to  be  fixed  by  the  governor  and  council  and  at  the  expense 
of  the  state. 


72  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

Sec.  3.  For  the  necessary  expenses  of  carrying  out  the 
provisions  of  the  two  preceding  sections  there  may  be  an- 
nually expended  the  amount  of  the  fees  received  under  the 
provisions  of  section  one  together  with  such  part  as  may 
be  required  of  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars,  which  sum 
the  treasurer  of  state  shall  deduct  for  said  purpose  from 
any  school  money  raised  for  the  support  of  common  schools. 

AN  ACT  TO  ACCEPT  THE  BENEFITS  OF  AN  ACT 
PASSED  BY  THE  SENATE  AND  HOUSE  OF 
REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 
OF  AMERICA  IN  CONGRESS  ASSEMBLED  TO 
PROVIDE  FOR  THE  PROMOTION  OF  VOCA- 
TIONAL EDUCATION. 

(Chap.  186,  P.  L.  1917.) 

Section  1.  That  the  State  of  Maine  does  hereby  accept 
the  benefits  of  an  act  passed  by  the  Senate  and  House  of 
Representatives  of  the  United  States  of  America  in  Congress . 
assembled  entitled  "An  act  to  provide  for  the  promotion  of 
vocational  education ;  to  provide  for  cooperation  with  the 
states  in  the  promotion  of  such  education  in  agriculture  and 
the  trades  and  industries;  to  provide  for  cooperation  with 
the  states  in  the  preparation  of  teachers  of  vocational  sub- 
jects; and  to  appropriate  money  and  regulate  its  expendi- 
ture," approved  February  23,  1917,  and  will  observe*  and 
comply  with  all  the  requirements  of  said  act. 

Sec.  2.  That  a  State  Board  is  hereby  created  for  the  pur- 
poses of  the  said  act,  and  is  hereby  given  all  necessary  power 
to  cooperate  with  the  Federal  Board  of  Vocational  Educa- 
tion in  the  administration  of  the  provisions  of  the  act.  Said 
board  shall  consist  of  three  members  of  whom  the  state 
superintendent  of  public  schools  shall  serve  as  chairman  and 
the  other  two  members  shall  be  appointed  by  the  governor 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  council  for  terms  of  three 
years.  The  said  board  shall  serve  without  compensation. 

Sec.  3.  The  treasurer  of  state  is  hereby  designated  as 
custodian  for  all  appropriations  received  by  the  state  under 
the  provisions  of  the  act  and  he  shall  receive  and  provide 
for  the  proper  custody  and  distribution  of  all  money  paid 
to  the  state  from  said  appropriations. 


SCHOOL  LAWS   OF  MAINE.  73 

AN  ACT  RELATING  TO  THE  EDUCATION  OF  DEAF 
AND  DUMB  CHILDREN. 

(Chap.  22,  P.  L.  1919.) 

Every  parent,  guardian  or  other  person,  having  control  of 
any  mentally  normal  child  between  six  and  eighteen  years 
of  age,  too  deaf  or  too  dumb  to  be  materially  benefitted  by 
the  methods  of  instruction  in  vogue  in  the  public  schools, 
unless  it  can  be  shown  that  the  child  is  receiving  regular 
instruction  during  the  same  period  in  studies  usually  taught 
in  the  public  schools,  shall  be  required  to  send  such  child 
ur  youth  to  the  Maine  School  for  the  Deaf  in  the  city  of 
Portland,  during  the  scholastic  year  of  that  school.  Such 
child  or  youth  shall  attend  such  school,  year  after  year,  until 
discharged  by  the  superintendent  upon  approval  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  said  school. 

AN   ACT   FOR   THE    RATING   AND    STANDARDIZA- 
TION OF  SCHOOLS. 

(Chap.  26,  P.  L.  1919.) 

Section  1.  Whenever  the  superintending  school  commit- 
tee or  the  superintendent  of  schools  of  any  town,  or  any  three 
citizens  thereof,  shall  petition  the  state  superintendent  of 
public  schools  to  make  an  inspection  of  the  schools  of  said 
town  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  state  superintendent  of  public 
schools  to  cause  an  inspection  to  be  made  and  to  report  to 
the  school  committee  his  findings  and  recommendations. 

Sec.  2.  The  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  shall 
prepare  a  list  of  standards  of  buildings,  equipment,  organiza- 
tion and  instruction  and  shall  give  such  ratings  upon  such 
list  of  standards  to  any  schools  that  are  inspected  under  the 
provisions  of  this  act  as  their  general  condition,  equipment 
and  grade  of  efficiency  may  entitle  them  to. 

AN  ACT  TO  PROVIDE  FOR  THE  TRAINING  OF 
RURAL  TEACHERS. 

(Chap.  51,  P.  L.  1919.) 

Section  1.  As  a  means  of  increasing  the  efficiency  of  rural 
education  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  state  superintendent  of 
public  schools  to  make  provision  for  a  special  school  of  in- 


74  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF   MAINE. 

struction  during  the  summer  months  for  not  more  than  one 
hundred  rural  teachers.  The  course  of  study  and  plans  of 
instruction  shall  be  arranged  with  a  special  view  to  train- 
ing for  rural  teaching  and  rural  leadership.  Teachers 
eligible  to  attend  said  school  shall  be  selected  by  the  state 
superintendent  of  schools,  upon  recommendation  of  superin- 
tendents of  rural  towns,  in  accordance  with  such  standards 
of  fitness  as  the  state  superintendent  shall  determine. 
Teachers  so  trained  shall  agree  to  return  to  the  service  of  the 
towns  from  which  they  are  chosen  for  at  least  one  year,  dur- 
ing which  time  they  shall  act  as  rural  critic  and  helping 
teachers. 

Sec.  2.  The  state  superintendent  of  public  schools  is 
hereby  authorized  to  arrange  for  the  payment  of  necessary 
expenses  of  travel  and  board  incurred  by  teachers  in  attend- 
ing said  school  of  instruction,  and  at  the  close  of  the  school 
year  he  shall  recommend  to  the  Governor  and  Council,  upon 
satisfactory  evidence  of  successful  service,  the  payment  to 
each  teacher  so  trained  of  a  bonus  of  twenty-five  per  cent. 
of  the  annual  salary  paid  to  her  by  the  town  for  her  serv- 
ices. For  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  this 
act  there  is  hereby  appropriated  for  the  year  nineteen  hun- 
dred and  nineteen  the  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars,  and  for 
the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  twenty,  and  annually  there- 
after, the  sum  of  twenty  thousand  dollars,  said  amounts  to 
be  deducted  from  state  school  funds. 

AN  ACT  TO  PROVIDE  FOR  PHYSICAL  EDUCATION 
IN  THE  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 

(Chap.  73,  P.  L.  1919.) 

Section  1.  In  order  to  more  thoroughly  prepare  the  youth 
of  the  state  for  the  duties  and  obligations  of  citizenship  and 
to  provide  for  their  future  well-being  and  comfort  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  superintending  school  committees  of  the 
several  towns  of  the  state,  beginning  not  later  than  Septem- 
ber first,  nineteen  hundred  and  twenty,  to  make  provision 
for  instruction  to  be  given  to  pupils  in  all  public  schools  in 
personal  hygiene,  community  sanitation  and  physical  educa- 
tion, including  recreational  exercises  in  accordance  with  a 
course  of  study  and  plans  of  lessons  and  instruction  pre- 
pared by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools,  who  shall 


SCHOOL   LAWS   OF  MAINE.  75 

prescribe  such  rules  and  regulations  as  may  be  necessary  to 
carry  out  in  successful  manner  said  program  of  physical  edu- 
cation and  he  may  require  such  reports  from  superintendents 
as  he  may  deem  necessary. 

Sec.  2.  Towns  may  employ  supervisors  or  directors  of 
physical  education  who  shall  meet  such  standards  of  prepa- 
ration and  certification  as  the  state  superintendent  of  schools 
may  determine.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  superintendent 
of  schools  in  which  directors  or  supervisors  of  physical 
education  are  employed  to  report  to  the  state  superintendent 
of  schools,  on  blank  forms  prepared  by  him,  the  number  of 
pupils  receiving  instruction,  the  number  of  directors  or  super- 
visors employed,  the  amount  paid  such  directors  or  super- 
visors, and  such  other  information  as  may  be  required. 

Sec.  3.  Whenever  the  superintendent  of  schools  of  any 
town  shall  certify  under  oath  to  the  state  superintendent  of 
public  schools  according  to  a  form  prescribed  by  him  that 
a  director  or  supervisor  of  physical  education  has  been  em- 
ployed for  the  school  year  preceding,  then  upon  approval  of 
such  certificate  by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools, 
reimbursement  from  state  or  federal  funds  shall  be  paid  to 
the  amount  of  one-half  the  salary  paid,  not  to  exceed  eight 
hundred  dollars  for  each  director  or  supervisor  in  any  one 
year,  and  not  to  exceed  sixteen  hundred  dollars  to  any  one 
town ;  provided,  that  the  appropriation  made  by  the  town  for 
this  purpose  shall  be  exclusive  of  any  other  sum  received 
from  the  state  for  the  support  of  common  schools  and  of 
the  minimum  requirement  raised  by  the  town  as  prescribed 
by  section  sixteen  of  chapter  sixteen  of  the  revised  statutes. 
Two  or  more  towns  adjacent  to  each  other,  or  the  several 
towns  of  a  superintendency  union,  may  cooperate  in  the 
employment  of  directors  or  supervisors  of  physical  education 
and  may  apportion  the  cost  of  the  same  among  the  several 
towns  of  the  group  according  to  the  amount  of  time  given 
to  each. 

Sec.  4.  For  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  provisions 
of  this  act  there  shall  be  appropriated  for  the  year  nineteen 
hundred  and  twenty,  and  annually  thereafter,  the  sum  of 
fifteen  thousand  dollars.  All  reports  required  under  this  act 
shall  be  filed  annually  with  the  state  superintendent  of  public 
schools  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  July,  and  state  aid  shall 
be  payable  during  the  month  of  December  next  succeeding-. 


6  SCHOOL    LAWS   OF    MALM';. 

RESOLVE  TO  PROVIDE  FUNDS  FOR  VOCATIONAL 
EDUCATION. 

(Chap.  105,  P.  L.  1919.) 

That  the  state  of  Maine  may  cooperate  with  the  federal 
government  in  the  extension  of  instruction  in  home  eco- 
nomics, agriculture  and  in  the  trades  and  industries  in  all- 
day  schools,  part-time  and  evening  classes  for  persons  over 
fourteen  years  of  age  who  are  to  enter  practical  work  in  these 
occupations  and  for  the  purpose  of  increasing  the  efficiency 
and  facilitating  advancement,  earning  capacity  and  promo- 
tion of  those  already  engaged  in  said  occupations  there  is 
hereby  appropriated  out  of  the  general  funds  of  the  state  the 
sum  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars  for  the  year  nineteen  hundred 
and  nineteen  and  twenty  thousand  dollars  for  the  year  nine- 
teen hundred  and  twenty,  and  annually  thereafter.  Such 
funds  shall  be  used  under  the  direction  of  the  state  board 
for  vocational  education  for  instruction,  equipment,  super- 
vision and  for  the  payment  of  the  actual  necessary  expenses 
of  the  board  in  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  the  plans  and 
specifications  set  up  by  the  state  board  and  approved  by  the 
federal  board  for  vocational  education. 

AN  ACT  RELATING  TO  SCHOOLING  IN  UNORGAN- 
IZED TERRITORY. 

(Chap.  127,  P.  L.  1919.) 

Section  1.  I.  All  children  between  the  ages  of  five  and 
twenty-one  years  who  reside  with  a  parent  or  legal  guardian 
in  unorganized  territory  within  this  state  (within  the  mean- 
ing of  this  act  unorganized  territory,  shall  include  all  ter- 
ritory not  a  part  of  any  city,  town  or  plantation,  and  an 
unorganized  unit  shall  be  any  unorganized  township,  gore, 
strip,  tract,  surplus,  point,  patent,  peninsula,  island,  dis- 
organized town  or  plantation,  or  any  other  distinct  and 
separate  portion  of  unorganized  state  territory)  shall  be 
entitled  to  school  privileges  which  shall  be  provided  under 
the  direction  of  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools 
under  such  rules  and  regulations  as  may  be  made  from  time 
to  time  by  him  and  approved  by  the  governor  and  council. 
.  II.  Elementary  school  privileges  may  be  provided  by  the 
state  superintendent  of  schools  by  establishing  and  maintain- 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE.  77 

ing  in  the  unorganized  territory  such  elementary  schools,  the 
minimum  school  year  of  which  shall  be  thirty  weeks,  as  may 
seem  advisable  and  by  sending  such  children  to  elementary 
schools  anywhere  within  the  state  as  tuition  pupils  as  he 
may  deem  expedient.  All  children  so  sent  by  the  state  super- 
intendent as  tuition  pupils  to  any  public  elementary  school 
in  the  state  shall  be  admitted  by  the  school  authorities  hav- 
ing charge  thereof  upon  receiving  notice  of  such  intention 
from  the  state  superintendent  or  any  of  his  duly  authorized 
agents  and  they  shall  be  entitled  to  all  privileges  and  bene- 
fits, and  be  subject  to  the  same  rules  and  regulations  as 
children  residing  in  the  municipality  to  which  they  are  sent; 
tuition  shall  be  paid  by  the  state  for  said  pupils  in  accord- 
ance with  the  proportional  cost  per  pupil  of  the  school  at- 
tended unless  a  rate  of  tuition  is  otherwise  agreed  upon ; 
transportation  or  board,  in  full  or  in  part,  may  be  paid  for 
such  pupils  at  the  discretion  of  the  state  superintendent. 

III.  Any  youth  who  resides  with  a  parent  or  legal  guard- 
ian in  the  unorganized  territory  of  this  state  and  who  may 
be  judged  by  the  state  superintendent  qualified  to  enter  a 
secondary  school  may  attend  any   such  school  in  the   state 
to  which  he  may  gain  entrance  by  permission  of  those  having 
charge   thereof,   provided   said   school   shall   be   of   standard 
grade  approved  by  the  state  superintendent  of  public  schools. 
In  such  case  the  tuition  of  such  youth  not  to  exceed  forty- 
five  dollars  annually  shall,  provided  a  satisfactory  standard 
of   scholarship   and   deportment   is   maintained,   be   paid   by 
the  state  under  such  rules  and  regulations  as  may  be  made 
by  the  state  superintendent.  r 

IV.  Special  arrangements  may  be  made  to  provide  ele- 
mentary  school   privileges   in   cooperation   with   the   United 
States  government  for  a  child  or  children  residing  with   a 
parent  or  legal  guardian  at  any  light  station,   fog  warning 
station,  life  saving  station,  or  other  place  within  a  United 
States  government  reservation,  under  such  rules  and  regula- 
tions as  may  be  made  by  the  state  superintendent  and  ap- 
proved by  the  governor  and  council. 

Sec.  2.  For  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  provisions  of 
the  preceding  section,  there  is  hereby  appropriated  the  sum 
of  thirty-five  thousand  dollars  annually,  which  sum  shall  be 
deducted  and  set  aside  therefor  by  the  treasurer  of  state  from 
the  annual  school  funds  of  the  state.  All  of  this  appropria- 


78  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

tion  not  expended  during  any  financial  year,  shall,  on  the 
first  day  of  July  next  following,  be  added  to  the  permanent 
school  fund.  The  state  superintendent  is  hereby  authorized 
to  use  this  appropriation  for  any  purpose  in  connection  with 
the  schooling  of  children  in  the  unorganized  territory  of  the 
state,  including:  teachers'  salaries,  board  and  traveling 
expenses;  fuel  and  janitor  service;  tuition,  board  and  trans- 
portation of  elementary  school  pupils;  secondary  school  tui- 
tion ;  textbooks,  school  apparatus  and  supplies ;  erection, 
equipment,  repair  and  maintenance  of  schoolhouses  and  re- 
quisite buildings,  all  of  which  schoolhouses  shall  conform  to 
the  minimum  requirements  for  school  buildings  as  provided 
by  section  fourteen  of  chapter  sixteen  of  the  revised  statutes, 
as  amended;  lots  for  school  buildings  or  leases  thereof; 
services  and  expenses  of  agents  and  attendance  officers,  and 
clerical  assistance;  and  any  other  expenses  he  may  deem 
necessary. 

Sec.  3.  Before  school  privileges  are  provided  in  accord- 
ance with  section  one  of  this  act  for  a  child  or  children  in 
any  unorganized  unit  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  state  super- 
intendent through  his  agents  to  procure  returns  showing  an 
assessment  of  the  school  tax  as  provided  in  section  four,  and 
the  number  of  persons,  including  the  names  and  ages  of 
those  between  five  and  twenty-one  years,  resident  therein, 
together  with  such  other  information  as  he  may  deem  neces- 
sary, and  similar  returns  shall  be  required  by  him  annually 
thereafter  on  the  first  day  of  April,  or  corrected  to  the  first 
day  of  April,  as  long  as  school  privileges  are  so  provided. 

Sec.j  4.  Whenever  school  privileges  are  first  provided  in 
accordance  with  section  one  of  this  act  for  a  child  or  children 
resident  in  any  unorganized  unit  and  annually  thereafter  on 
the  first  day  of  April  as  long  as  school  privileges  are  pro- 
vided, all  male  residents  of  such  unorganized  unit  twenty-one 
years  of  age  and  over  shall  be  assessed  and  shall  pay  to  the 
state  superintendent  of  public  schools  or  his  duly  authorized 
agent  a  school  tax  of  three  dollars.  The  obligation  to  pay 
this  tax  shall  in  no  way  be  removed  in  case  a  resident  pays  or 
has  paid  a  poll  tax  in  a  town.  The  state  superintendent  shall 
have  authority  to  abate  said  tax  in  any  case  when  conditions 
appear  to  warrant  such  action.  All  of  said  taxes  so  collected 
by  agents  shall  be  remitted  by  them  to  the  state  superin- 
tendent, who  shall  transfer  such  taxes  to  the  treasurer  of 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE.  79 

state  to  be  credited  to  the  appropriation  for  schooling  in  un- 
organized territory. 

Sec.  5.  The  state  superintendent  shall  have  authority  to 
appoint  agents  for  the  whole  and  any  portion  of  the  unor- 
ganized territory  and  said  agents  shall  perform  such  duties 
in  connection  with  the  schooling  of  children,  including  the 
assessing  and  collecting  of  the  school  tax,  as  the  state  super- 
intendent may  authorize  or  delegate  in  each  particular  ap- 
pointment. Said  agents  in  the  collection  of  the  school  tax 
aforesaid  shall  have  the  same  powers  and  may  use  the  same 
methods  as  collectors  of  taxes  in  towns  are  authorized  to 
exercise  and  use  for  the  collecting  of  personal  and  poll  taxes 
committed  to  them ;  said  agents  shall  act  as  attendance  officers 
for  the  territory  covered  by  their  appointment.  Special  at- 
tendance officers  as  may  appear  necessary  may  be  appointed 
by  the  state  superintendent  for  any  unorganized  unit.  At- 
tendance officers  for  the  unorganized  territory  shall  have  the 
same  authority  and  be  under  the  same  obligations  as  provided 
in  section  sixty-eight  of  chapter  sixteen  of  the  revised 
statutes,  with  such  changes  as  provided  in  section  ten  of  this 
act. 

Sec.  <i.  I.  When  a  location  for  a  schoolhouse  and  requi- 
site buildings  in  any  unorganized  unit  has  been  designated  by 
the  state  superintendent  and  the  owner  thereof  refuses  to  sell, 
or,  in  the  opinion  of  the  state  superintendent  asks  an  unrea- 
sonable price  for  it,  or  resides  without  the  state  and  has  no 
authorized  agent  or  attorney  therein,  the  state  superintendent 
or  his  duly  authorized  agent,  any  time  after  thirty  days  from 
the  time  of  notifying  the  said  owner  of  the  designation  of 
said  lot,  may  lay  out  a  schoolhouse  lot,  not  exceeding  three 
acres,  and  appraise  the  damages ;  and  on  payment  and  tender 
of  such  damages,  or  if  said  owner  does  not  reside  in  the  state, 
upon  depositing  such  damages  with  the  state  treasurer  for 
his  use,  may  take  such  lot  to  be  held  and  used  for  the  pur- 
poses aforesaid,  and  should  a  school  building  not  be  erected 
thereon  within  a  period  of  three  years  from  the  date  the  lot 
was  taken  by  the  state,  it  shall  revert  to  the  owner,  his  heirs 
or  assigns.  The  state  superintendent  may  take  real  estate  for 
the  enlargement  or  extension  of  any  location  designated  for 
the  erection  or  removal  of  a  schoolhouse  and  requisite  build- 
ings and  playgrounds,  as  herein  provided ;  but  no  real  estate 
shall  be  so  taken  within  fifty  feet  of  a  dwelling  house,  and  all 


80  SCHOOL  LAWS   OF  MAINE. 

schoolhouse  lots  and  playgrounds  that  require  fencing  shall 
be  fenced  by  the  state. 

II.  If  the  owner  is  aggrieved  at  the  location  of  the  lot,  or 
the  damages  awarded,  he  may  apply  to  the  board  of  state 
assessors  within  three  months,  who  may  change  the  location 
and  assess  the  damages.  If  the  damages  are  increased  or  the 
location  changed,  the  state  shall  pay  the  damages  and  costs; 
otherwise  the  costs  shall  be  paid  by  the  applicant. 

Sec.  7.  Whenever  any  unorganized  unit  becomes  orga- 
nized as  a  town  or  plantation  such  town  or  plantation  shall, 
within  two  years  of  the  date  of  said  organization,  through  the 
state  superintendent,  pay  to  the  treasurer  of  state  for  each 
school  building  within  its  limits  erected  or  remodeled  in  ac- 
cordance with  thfe  act  a  sum  to  be  determined  by  the  state 
superintendent  and  not  less  than  two-thirds  of  the  cost  to  the 
state  of  such  building,  lot  and  improvements,  which  sum  shall 
be  credited  to  the  appropriation  for  schooling  in  unorganized 
territory.  A  record  shall  be  kept  by  the  state  superintendent 
of  the  cost  of  all  such  buildings,  lots  and  improvements, 
which  shall  be  used  as  a  basis  for  such  settlement.  It  is 
further  provided  that  any  town  or  plantation  dissatisfied  with 
the  sum  determined  upon  by  the  state  superintendent  in  such 
case,  may,  after  a  vote  taken  by  the  town  or  plantation  at  a 
regular  or  special  meeting  called  for  the  purpose  appeal  to 
the  governor  and  council  who  shall  make  the  final  decision 
relative  thereto. 

Sec.  8.  Any  school  building  in  unorganized  territory  may 
be  used  and  held  for  school  purposes  by  the  state  superin- 
tendent of  public  schools,  and  all  repairs,  changes  or  addi- 
tions thereto  shall  be  made  under  his  direction  or  that  of  a 
duly  authorized  agent.  All  school  buildings  not  privately 
owned  in  unorganized  territory  shall  become  the  property  of 
the  state  upon  the  passage  of  this  act.  Whenever  a  town  or 
plantation  becomes  disorganized  by  act  of  the  legislature  all 
school  property  therein  shall  become  the  property  of  the 
state  and  under  the  charge  of  the  state  superintendent  the 
same  as  other  school  property  in  unorganized  territory. 

Sec.  9.  Whenever  the  civil  organization  of  any  town  or 
plantation  becomes  defunct  through  failure  to  hold  the  annual 
town  or  plantation  meeting,  failure  to  fill  vacancies  in  neces- 
sary offices,  or  in  any  other  manner,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
state  superintendent  of  schools  to  assume  charge  of  all  school 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF   MAINE.  81 

property  therein,  to  require  an  accounting  for  all  town  or 
plantation  school  funds,  and  to  provide  school  privileges  for 
children  between  five  and  twenty-one  years  of  age  whose, 
parents  are  residents  of  such  town  or  plantation,  until  such 
time  as  it  shall  recover  its  civil  organization  or  is  disorganized 
by  act  of  the  legislature.     The  state  superintendent  may  pro- 
vide the  school  privileges  in  such  manner  as  he  may  deem 
expedient  under  the  supervision  of  any  of  the  agents  of  the 
unorganized  territory  or  a  special  agent  appointed  by  him 
for  the  purpose.     The  expense  of  such  school  privileges  shall 
be  paid  from  the  appropriation  for  schooling  in  unorganized 
territory  and  in  case  any  such  town  or  plantation  recovers  its 
civil  organization  within*  a  period  of  two  years  the  amount 
of  any  such  expense  paid  by  the  state   shall,  upon  recom- 
mendation of  the  state  superintendent  of  schools,  be  deducted 
by  the  treasurer  of  state  from  any   school  funds  that  may 
subsequently  become  payable  to  such  town  or  plantation  by 
the  state  and  credited  to  the  appropriation  for  schooling  in 
unorganized  territory. 

Sec.  10.  The  compulsory  school  attendance  laws,  child 
labor  laws  and  sections  fifty-three  and  fifty-four  and  one 
hundred  and  forty-eight  to  one  hundred  and  fifty-two,  inclu- 
sive, of  chapter  sixteen  of  the  revised  statutes,  shall  apply  to 
children  of  the  unorganized  territory  of  the  state  the  same  as 
to  the  children  of  cities,  towns  and  plantations  with  such 
changes  thereof  relative  to  officials,  courts,  disposal  of  fines, 
etc.,  as  may  be  made  by  the  state  superintendent  and  ap- 
proved by  a  judge  of  the  supreme  judicial  court  to  make  these 
laws  applicable  to  the  unorganized  territory  while  retaining 
the  general  principles  of  the  laws;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  state  superintendent  to  have  these  laws,  with  the 
changes  as  made,  printed  in  sufficient  quantity  for  use  in  the 
unorganized  territory,  and  to  supply  to  any  person  making 
application  therefor. 

Sec.  1.1.  Sections  one  hundred  and  fifteen;  one  hundred 
and  sixteen;  one  hundred  and  seventeen,  as  amended  by 
chapter  fifty-one  of  the  public  laws  of  nineteen  hundred  and 
seventeen ;  one  hundred  and  eighteen,  as  amended  by  chapter 
sixty-five  of  the  public  laws  of  nineteen  hundred  and  seven- 
teen ;  and  one  hundred  and  nineteen  of  chapter  sixteen  of  the 
revised  statutes,  are  hereby  repealed. 


80  SCHOOL  LAWS   OF  MAINE. 

schoolhouse  lots  and  playgrounds  that  require  fencing  shall 
be  fenced  by  the  state. 

II.  If  the  owner  is  aggrieved  at  the  location  of  the  lot.  or 
the  damages  awarded,  he  may  apply  to  the  board  of  state 
assessors  within  three  months,  who  may  change  the  location 
and  assess  the  damages.  If  the  damages  are  increased  or  the 
location  changed,  the  state  shall  pay  the  damages  and  costs: 
otherwise  the  costs  shall  be  paid  by  the  applicant. 

Sec.  7.  Whenever  any  unorganized  unit  becomes  orga- 
nized as  a  town  or  plantation  such  town  or  plantation  shall, 
within  two  years  of  the  date  of  said  organization,  through  the 
state  superintendent,  pay  to  the  treasurer  of  state  for  each 
school  building  within  its  limits  erected  or  remodeled  in  ac- 
cordance with  this  act  a  sum  to  be  determined  by  the  state 
superintendent  and  not  less  than  two-thirds  of  the  cost  to  the 
state  of  such  building,  lot  and  improvements,  which  sum  shall 
be  credited  to  the  appropriation  for  schooling  in  unorganized 
territory.  A  record  shall  be  kept  by  the  state  superintendent 
of  the  cost  of  all  such  buildings,  lots  and  improvements, 
which  shall  be  used  as  a  basis  for  such  settlement.  It  is 
further  provided  that  any  town  or  plantation  dissatisfied  with 
the  sum  determined  upon  by  the  state  superintendent  in  such 
case,  may,  after  a  vote  taken  by  the  town  or  plantation  at  a 
regular  or  special  meeting  called  for  the  purpose  appeal  to 
the  governor  and  council  who  shall  make  the  final  decision 
relative  thereto. 

Sec.  8.  Any  school  building  in  unorganized  territory  may 
be  used  and  held  for  school  purposes  by  the  state  superin- 
tendent of  public  schools,  and  all  repairs,  changes  or  addi- 
tions thereto  shall  be  made  under  his  direction  or  that  of  a 
duly  authorized  agent.  All  school  buildings  not  privately 
owned  in  unorganized  territory  shall  become  the  property  of 
the  state  upon  the  passage  of  this  act.  Whenever  a  town  or 
plantation  becomes  disorganized  by  act  of  the  legislature  all 
school  property  therein  shall  become  the  property  of  the 
state  and  under  the  charge  of  the  state  superintendent  the 
same  as  other  school  property  in  unorganized  territory. 

Sec.  9.  Whenever  the  civil  organization  of  any  town  or 
plantation  becomes  defunct  through  failure  to  hold  the  annual 
town  or  plantation  meeting,  failure  to  fill  vacancies  in  neces- 
sary offices,  or  in  any  other  manner,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
state  superintendent  of  schools  to  assume  charge  of  all  school 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF   MAINE.  81 

property  therein,  to  require  an  accounting  for  all  town  or 
plantation  school  funds,  and  to  provide  school  privileges  for 
children  between  five  and  twenty-one  years  of  age  whose, 
parents  are  residents  of  such  town  or  plantation,  until  such 
time  as  it  shall  recover  its  civil  organization  or  is  disorganized 
by  act  of  the  legislature.  The  state  superintendent  may  pro- 
vide the  school  privileges  in  such  manner  as  he  may  deem 
expedient  under  the  supervision  of  any  of  the  agents  of  the 
unorganized  territory  or  a  special  agent  appointed  by  him 
for  the  purpose.  The  expense  of  such  school  privileges  shall 
be  paid  from  the  appropriation  for  schooling  in  unorganized 
territory  and  in  case  any  such  town  or  plantation  recovers  its 
civil  organization  within-  a  period  of  two  years  the  amount 
of  any  such  expense  paid  by  the  state  shall,  upon  recom- 
mendation of  the  state  superintendent  of  schools,  be  deducted 
by  the  treasurer  of  state  from  any  school  funds  that  may 
subsequently  become  payable  to  such  town  or  plantation  by 
the  state  and  credited  to  the  appropriation  for  schooling  in 
unorganized  territory. 

Sec.  10.  The  compulsory  school  attendance  laws,  child 
labor  laws  and  sections  fifty-three  and  fifty-four  and  one 
hundred  and  forty-eight  to  one  hundred  and  fifty-two,  inclu- 
sive, of  chapter  sixteen  of  the  revised  statutes,  shall  apply  to 
children  of  the  unorganized  territory  of  the  state  the  same  as 
to  the  children  of  cities,  towns  and  plantations  with  such 
changes  thereof  relative  to  officials,  courts,  disposal  of  fines, 
etc.,  as  may  be  made  by  the  state  superintendent  and  ap- 
proved by  a  judge  of  the  supreme  judicial  court  to  make  these 
laws  applicable  to  the  unorganized  territory  while  retaining 
the  general  principles  of  the  laws;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  state  superintendent  to  have  these  laws,  with  the 
changes  as  made,  printed  in  sufficient  quantity  for  use  in  the 
unorganized  territory,  and  to  supply  to  any  person  making 
application  therefor. 

Sec.  1.1.  Sections  one  hundred  and  fifteen;  one  hundred 
and  sixteen;  one  hundred  and  seventeen,  as  amended  by 
chapter  fifty-one  of  the  public  laws  of  nineteen  hundred  and 
seventeen;  one  hundred  and  eighteen,  as  amended  by  chapter 
sixty-five  of  the  public  laws  of  nineteen  hundred  and  seven- 
teen ;  and  one  hundred  and  nineteen  of  chapter  sixteen  of  the 
revised  statutes,  are  hereby  repealed. 


82  SCHOOL  LAWS   OF  MAINE. 

AN  ACT  TO  PROVIDE  PART-TIME  AND  EVENING 
SCHOOL  CLASSES  FOR  PERSONS  BETWEEN  THE 
AGES  OF  FOURTEEN  AND  EIGHTEEN  YEARS 
EMPLOYED  IN  INDUSTRIAL  ESTABLISHMENTS 
WHO  HAVE  NOT  COMPLETED  THE  ELEMEN- 
TARY SCHOOL . 

(Chap.  205,  P.  L.  1919.) 

.  Sec.  1.  In  order  to  improve  the  industrial  and  civic  effi- 
ciency of  persons  between  the  ages  of  fourteen  and  eighteen 
now  engaged  in  industrial  occupations  and  who  have  not 
reached  the  proficiency  in  reading,,  writing,  arithmetic,  lan- 
guage, geography,  history  and  citizenship  required  for  the 
completion  of  the  elementary  school  course  as  recognized 
in  the  schools  of  the  State  of  Maine,  the  superintending  school 
committee  and  boards  of  education  of  the  towns  and  cities  of 
the  state  are  hereby  authorized  to  establish  part-time  or  part- 
time  continuation  schools  and  classes  for  the  benefit  of  such 
persons.  For  the  purpose  of  this  act  a  part-time  continua- 
tion school  or  class  shall  be  understood  to  mean  such  schools 
or  classes  as  are  conducted  during  the  regular  working  hours 
of  the  persons  employed.  Such  schools  shall  cover  one  hun- 
dred and  forty-four  hours  per  year  and  meet  the  standards 
set  up  by  the  state  board  for  vocational  education. 

Sec.  2.  Whenever  the  superintendent  of  schools  of  any 
town  or  city,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  July,  shall  report 
to  the  state  superintendent  of  schools  that  part-time  or  part- 
time  continuation  schools  and  classes  have  been  maintained 
in  accordance  with  the  specified  .standards,  and  when  such 
schools  and  classes  shall  be  approved  by  the  state  board  for 
vocational  education,  the  state  superintendent  shall  recom- 
mend to  the  governor  and  council  annually  in  December  the 
payment  of  reimbursement  from  federal  funds  designated  for 
part-time  schools  and  from  state  funds  provided  for  indus- 
trial education  to  the  extent  of  two-thirds  the  cost  of  instruc- 
tion. 

Sec.  3.  This  act  shall  not  be  construed  to  interfere  in  any 
manner  with  the  provisions  of  chapter  forty-nine  of  the  re- 
vised statutes  relating  to  child  labor  and  the  amendments 
thereto. 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE.  33 

AN  ACT  TO  PROVIDE  FOR  UPKEEP,  EQUIPMENT 
AND  EXTENSIONS  FOR  THE  SEVERAL  NORMAL 
SCHOOLS  AND  THE  MADAWASKA  TRAINING 
SCHOOL. 

(Chap.  217,  P.  L.  1919.) 

In  order  to  provide  for  the  need  of  more  and  better  trained 
teachers  for  the  schools  of  the  state  the  board  of  trustees  of 
the  state  normal  schools  is  hereby  authorized  to  provide  for 
upkeep,  equipment  and  extensions  of  the  several  normal 
schools  and  the  Madawaska  Training  School,  for  which  pur- 
pose there  shall  be  appropriated  the  sum  of  sixty  thousand 
dollars  beginning  with  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  twenty- 
one,  and  the  same  amount  annually  thereafter,  to  be  ex- 
pended under  the  direction  of  the  board  of  state  normal  school 
trustees  for  extensions  in  buildings,  repairs  and  equipment; 
and  if  it  appears  to  the  governor  and  council  that  an  emer- 
gency exists  requiring  extensions  in  any  normal  school  prior 
to  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  twenty-one  they  are  hereby 
authorized  to  provide  such  amounts  as  in  their  judgment  may 
be  necessary  therefor  out  of  such  funds  as  are  not  otherwise 
appropriated. 


AN  ACT  TO  PROVIDE  AN  EQUALIZATION  FUND 
FOR  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS. 

(Chap.  228,  P.  L.  1919.) 

Sec.  1.  There  is  hereby  established  a  fund  to  be  known  as 
the  equalization  fund  for  secondary  schools.  The  term  sec- 
ondary schools  shall  be  interpreted  to  include  all  free  high 
schools  and  academies.  The  state  superintendent  of  public 
schools  is  hereby  authorized, after  due  investigation, to  recom- 
mend to  the  governor  and  council  in  December  of  each  year 
the  payment  of  such  amounts  as  he  may  deem  advisable  from 
this  fund  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  such  high  schools  or  acad- 
emies as  appear  to  merit  special  assistance  for  the  purpose  of 
increasing  the  length  of  the  school  year,  improving  equip- 
ment and  instruction  and  for  purposes  other  than  for  new 
buildings.  Upon  such  recommendation  the  governor  and 
council  may  draw  warrants  upon  the  treasurer  of  state  in 
favor  of  the  legal  representatives  of  the  several  academies  or 


84  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

of  the  treasurer  of  the  towns  included  in  said  recommenda- 
tion. 

Sec.  2.  For  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  provisions  of 
section  one  of  this  act  there  is  hereby  annually  appropriated 
the  sum  of  forty  thousand  dollars. 


EMPLOYMENT  OF  CHILDREN. 

(Sections  20-31  of  Chap.  49,  Revised  Statutes  as  amended  by 
(Chap.  146,  P.  L.  1917   and  Chap.  190,  P.  L.  1919.) 

Sec.  20.  Employment  of  children  under  fourteen  years  of 
age  regulated.  1915,  c.  327,  §  1.  No  child  under  fourteen 
years  of  age  shall  be  employed,  permitted  or  suffered  to  work 
in,  about,  or  in  connection  with  any  manufacturing  or  me- 
chanical establishment.  No  child  under  fifteen  years  of  age 
shall  be  employed,  permitted  or  suffered  to  work  at  any 
business  or  service  for  hire,  whatever,  during  the  hours  that 
the  public  schools  of  the  town  or  city  in  which  he  resides  are 
in  session. 

Sec.  21.  Regulations  for  employment  of  minors  between 
fourteen  and  sixteen  years  of  age ;  issuance  of  work  permits ; 
physician's  certificate  may  be  required.  1915,  c.  327,  §  2. 
No  minor  between  the  ages  of  fourteen  and  sixteen  years 
shall  be  employed,  permitted  or  suffered  to  work  in  any  of 
the  aforementioned  occupations  unless  the  person,  firm  or 
corporation  employing  such  child  procures  and  keeps  on 
file  accessible  to  any  attendance  officer,  factory  inspector  or 
other  authorized  officer  charged  with  the  enforcement  of 
section  twenty  to  thirty-one,  both  inclusive,  of  this  chapter, 
a  work  permit  issued  to  said  child  by  the  superintendent  of 
schools  of  the  city  or  town  in  which  the  child  resides,  or  by 
some  person  authorized  by  him  in  writing.  The  person  au- 
thorized to  issue  a  work  permit  shall  not  issue  such  permit 
until  such  child  has  furnished  such  issuing  officer  a  certificate 
signed  by  the  principal  of  the  school  last  attended  show- 
ing that  the  child  can  read  and  write  correctly  simple  sen- 
tences in  the  English  language  and  that  he  has  satisfactorily 
completed  the  studies  covered  in  the  first  six  yearly  grades 
of  the  elementary  public  schools,  or  their  equivalent ;  in  case 
such  certificate  cannot  be  obtained,  then  the  officer  issuing 
the  work  permit  shall  examine  such  child  to  determine 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE.  35 

whether  he  can  meet  the  educational  standard  specified  and 
shall  file  in  his  office  a  statement  setting  forth  the  result  of 
such  examination;  nor  until  he  has  received,  examined,  ap- 
proved and  filed  satisfactory  evidence  of  age  showing  that 
the  child  is  fourteen  years  old  or  upwards;  such  evidence 
shall  consist  of  a  certified  copy  of  the  town  clerk's  record  of 
the  birth  of  said  child,  or  a  certified  copy  of  his  baptismal 
record,  showing  the  .date  of  his  birth  and  place  of  baptism,  or 
a  passport  showing  the  date  of  birth.  In  the  event  of  the 
minor  being  unable  to  produce  the  evidence  heretofore  men- 
tioned, and  the  person  authorized  to  issue  the  work  permit 
being  satisfied  of  that  fact,  the  said  work  permit  may  be 
issued  on  other  documentary  evidence  of  age  satisfactory  to 
the  person  authorized  to  issue  the  work  permit,  provided 
said  documentary  evidence  has  been  approved  by  the  state 
commissioner  of  labor.  The  superintendent  of  schools,  or 
the  person  authorized  to  issue  such  work  permit  may  re- 
quire, in  doubtful  cases,  a  certificate  signed  by  a  physician 
appointed  by  the  school  board,  or,  in  case  there  is  no  school 
physician,  from  the  medical  officer  of  the  board  of  health, 
stating  that  such  child  has  been  examined  by  him,  and,  in 
his  opinion,  has  reached  the  normal  development  of  a  child 
of  its  age  and  is  in  sufficiently  sound  health  and  physically 
able  to  perform  the  work  which  he  intends  to  do.  The  state 
factory  inspector,  his  deputy  or  agent,  may  require  a  similar 
certificate  in  doubtful  cases,  of  the  minors  employed  under  a 
work  permit.  A  work  permit  when  duly  issued  shall  excuse 
such  child  from  attendance  at  public  school;  but  no  person 
shall  issue  such  permit  to  any  minor  then  in  or  about  to 
enter  his  employment  or  the  employment  of  the  firm  or  cor- 
poration of  which  he  is  a  member,  stockholder,  officer  or  em- 
ployee. 

Sec.  22.  Vacation  permits  for  work  during  summer  vaca- 
tion. 1915,  c.  327,  §  2.  Vacation  permits  shall  be  issued  by 
the  local  superintendent  of  schools,  or  by  some  person  au- 
thorized by  him  in  writing,  to  minors  between  fourteen  and 
sixteen  years  of  age,  on  satisfaction  of  the  same  requirements, 
with  the  exception  of  the  educational  qualifications,  as  for  the 
regular  work  permits,  and  shall  entitle  their  holders  to  work 
during  the  summer  school  vacation.  These  permits  shall 
be  void  after  the  first  Monday  of  September  following.  They 
shall  be  known  as  vacation  permits,  shall  be  of  different 


86  SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 

color  from  the  work  permits  and  shall  state  plainly  the  date 
after  which  they  are  void. 

Sec.  23.     Blanks  to  be  furnished  by  commissioner  of  labor ; 
permits  to  be  in  duplicate ;  papers  forwarded  to  department ; 
surrender   and   cancellation   of   permits.     1915,    c.   327,    §  2. 
The  blank  work  permit  and  other  papers  required  in  the  two 
preceding  sections  shall  be  formulated  by  the  commissioner 
of  labor  and  industry,  and  furnished  by  him  to  the  persons 
authorized  to  issue  work  permits.     The  forms  of  such  per- 
mits and  other  papers   shall   be   approved   by   the   attorney 
general.     Every  work  permit  and  every  vacation  permit  shall 
be  made  out  in  duplicate.     All  duplicates,  accompanied  by 
the  original  papers  on  which  such  permits  were  issued,  shall 
'be  forwarded  to  the  department  of  labor  and  industry,  by  the 
officer  issuing  same,  within  twenty-four  hours  of  the  time 
that  said  permit  was  issued.     Said  department  shall  examine 
said  papers  and  promptly  return  them  to  the  officer  who  sent 
them.     Said  original  papers  upon  which  said  permits  were 
issued  shall  be  filed  by  said  officer  and  preserved  for  such  time 
as  said  permits  are  outstanding,  or  until  the  minor  arrives  at 
the  age  of  sixteen.     They  shall  be  at  all  times  accessible  to 
the  commissioner  of  labor  and  industry  or  any  authorized 
agent  of  his  department.     Said  officer  shall  return  to  said 
child  all  papers  with  him  filed  in  proof  of  age,  upon  a  sur- 
render of  the  work  permit.     All  permits  thus   surrendered 
shall    be   marked   cancelled   by   the   officer   receiving   them. 
Whenever  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  a  work  permit  was 
improperly  issued  the  commissioner  of  labor  and  industry, 
and  state  factory  inspector,  his  deputy  or  agent,  shall  notify 
the  local  superintendent  of  schools  of  the  place  in  which  said 
certificate  was  issued.     The  local  superintendent  shall  cancel 
such  permit  when  directed  so  to  do  by  the  commissioner  of 
labor  and  industry. 

Sec.  24.  Blank  employment  certificates  shall  be  prepared; 
notice  to  commissioner  when  employment  is  terminated. 
1915,  c.  327,  §  2.  Employment  certificates,  to  be  formulated 
by  the  commissioner  of  labor  and  industry,  approved  by  the 
attorney  general,  and  supplied  by  the  department  of  labor, 
shall  be  prepared  by  the  employer  of  said  child  and  mailed 
within  twenty-four  hours  to  the  office  of  the  commissioner 
to  be  kept  on  file  by  him.  When  such  child  leaves  such  em- 
ployment, the  employer  shall  return  to  the  child  the  work 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE.  87 

permit  by  him  filed,  and  immediately  notify  the  commis- 
sioner of  labor  and  industry  that  such  child  has  left  his  em- 
ploy. 

Sec.  25.  Record  of  age  shall  be  received  as  evidence. 
1915,  c.  327,  §  3.  Any  record  of  age,  as  provided  under  sec- 
tion twenty-one  to  determine  whether  or  not  a  work  permit 
may  be  issued  to  any  child  shall  be  received  as  evidence  of 
the  age  of  such  child  in  any  prosecution  under  section  twenty 
to  thirty-one,  both  inclusive,  of  this  chapter. 

Sec.  26.  Work  permit  shall  be  conclusive  evidence;  offi- 
cer may  demand  documentary  evidence  of  age  of  child  em- 
ployed. 1915,  c.  327,  §  4.  A  work  permit  in  regular  form 
and  signed  by  a  duly  authorized  officer,  for  all  minors  be-, 
tween  the  ages  of  fourteen  and  sixteen  years,  shall  be  con- 
clusive evidence  of  age  and  educational  attainment,  in  behalf 
of  the  employer  of  any  child,  upon  any  prosecution  for  viola- 
tion of  the  provisions  of  the  law  relating  to  the  employment 
of  children.  An  inspector  of  factories,  attendance  officer,  or 
other  officer  charged  with  the  enforcement  of  sections  twenty 
to  thirty-one,  both  inclusive,  of  this  chapter,  may  make 
demand  on  any  employer  in  or  about  whose  place  or  estab- 
lishment a  minor  apparently  under  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
is  employed,  permitted  or  suffered  to  work,  that  such  em- 
ployer shall  either  furnish  him  within  ten  days  documentary 
evidence  of  age  as  specified  in  section  twenty-one,  or  shall 
cease  to  employ,  permit  or  suffer  such  child  to  work  in  such 
place  or  establishment. 

Sec.  27.  Punishment  of  employer  for  violation  of  law, 
1915,  c.  327,  §  5.  Any  person,  firm  or  corporation,  agent  or 
manager  of  any  firm  or  corporation,  who,  either  for  himself 
or  for  some  firm  or  corporation,  or  by  himself,  or  through 
agents,  servants,  or  foremen,  employs,  permits  or  suffers 
any  child  to  be  employed,  or  to  work  in  violation  of  any  of 
the  .provisions  of  sections  twenty  to  thirty,  both  inclusive, 
of  this  chapter,  or  otherwise  fails  to  comply  with  any  of 
the  provisions  of  said  sections,  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine 
of  not  less  than  twenty-five,  nor  more  than  two  hundred 
dollars. 

Sec.  28.  Punishment  of  parent,  guardian,  or  custodian  of 
child,  for  violation  of  law.  1915,  c.  327,  §  5.  Whoever, 
having  any  child  under  his  control  as  parent,  guardian,  custo- 


•88  SCHOOL   LAWS   OF  MAIM-,. 

dian,  or  otherwise,  permits  or  suffers  such  child  to  be  em- 
ployed or  to  work  in  violation  of  any  of  the  provisions  of 
sections  twenty  to  thirty,  both  inclusive,  of  this  chapter,  or 
whoever  presents,  or  permits  or  allows  any  child  under  his 
control  to  present,  to  any  employer,  owner  or  superintendent, 
overseer  or  agent  as  required  under  section  twenty-one  any 
work  permit  containing  any  false  statements  as  to  the  date 
of  birth  or  age  of  such  child,  knowing  them  to  be  false, 
shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  of  not  less  than  ten,  nor  more 
than  fifty  dollars  for  each  offense. 

Sec.  29.  Penalty  for  failure  to  perform  duty.  1915,  c. 
327,  §  5.  Whoever  being  authorized  to  issue  a  work  permit, 
shall  knowingly  fail  to  perform  the  duties  of  his  office  as 
required  by  the  provisions  of  section  twenty  to  thirty,  both 
inclusive,  of  this  chapter,  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  of  not 
less  than  twenty-five,  nor  more  than  fifty  dollars  for  each 
offense. 

Sec.  30.  Penalty  for  testifying  to  false  statements.  1915, 
c.  327,  §  5.  Whoever  being  authorized  to  sign  the  forego- 
ing work  permit,  or  whoever  signing  any  certified  copy  of 
a  town  clerk's  record  of  birth,  or  certified  copy  of  a  child's 
baptismal  record,  or  a  physician's  certificate,  shall  knowingly 
testify  to  any  false  statement  therein,  shall  be  punished  by 
a  fine  of  not  less  than  twenty-five,  nor  more  than  fifty  dollars 
for  each  offense. 

Sec.  31.  Enforcement  of  penalties  and  fines.  1915,  c.  327, 
§  6.  All  fines  or  penalties  provided  for  by  the  terms  of  the 
eleven  preceding  sections  may  be  recovered  or  enforced  by 
complaint  or  indictment,  and  in  all  prosecutions  under  this 
chapter  and  amendments  and  additions  thereto,  trial  justices 
and  judges  of  the  municipal  and  police  courts  within  their 
counties  shall  have  by  complaint  original  and  concurrent 
jurisdiction  with  the  supreme  judicial  court  and  superior 
courts. 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 
INDEX. 


89 


A. 

Abetting  truancy 

Academies,  aid  to 

attendance  at 

courses  at 

income  of 

ncorporation  of 

payments  to 

reports  of 

towns  providing  free  tuition  in 

trustees  of 

Academy  property    

conveyance  of 

income  of 

Adjoining  towns,  attendance  in 

support  of  high  schools  in 

Admission  to  schools 

Age,  school 

Agency,  state  teachers' 

Agents  of  Schools  in  unorganized  territory 

Annual  pensions  for  teachers 

report  of  state  superintendent 

returns  of  municipal  officers 

superintendents 

Appeal  by  owner  of  lot 

either  party  from  appraisal 

Applicants  for  normal  schools 

Apportionment  of  school  funds 

school  funds 

Appointment  of  state  superintendent 

school  physicians 

Appraisement  of  damages 

notice  of 

Appropriation  for  medical  inspection 

normal  schools 

plans  for  school  buildings 

salaries  of  union  superintendents : 
schools  in  unorganized  territory  . . 

teachers'  examinations 

pensions 


Approval  of  bills, 
plans 


for  new  buildings. 


Arbor  Day 

Arrest  of  truants 

Assessment  of  sum  for  lot 

Assessors,  duties  of 

Associations,  teachers' 

expenses  of. 
Attendance,  compulsory  school .... 

high  schools 

academies 

officers 

public  schools 


Section. 

70 

99 

102 

98 

102 

101 

99 

104 

100 

94 

94 

95 

96 

67 

78 

28 

30 

1 

5 

169 

122 

31 

50 

4 

9 

143 

154 

161 

120 

40 

3 

6 

47 

146 

13 

58 

1 

132 

176 

49 

12 

14 

109 

71 

7 

31 

110 

110 

66 

97 

102 

68 


Page. 
33 
45 
45 
44 
45 
45 
45 
46 
45 
43 
43 
44 
44 
31 
36 
14 
14 
71 
79 
68 
51 
15 
21 
7 
8 
61 
64 
66 
50 
18 
7 
8 
20 
62 
9 
26 
76 
56 
70 
21 


48 
33 
8 
15 
49 
49 
31 
44 
45 
32 
14 


B. 

Balance  .unexpended 

of  mill  fund », 

Blanks  for  common  school  returns , 

fiscal  returns , 

Blind,  instruction  for 

Board  of  Trustees  normal  schools 

report  of 

pupils 

Books,  change  of 

distribution  of 

exclusive  use  of 

for  schools  in  unorganized  territory 

loss  of 

purchase  of 

second  hand 

towns  shall  provide 

uniform  system  of 

Building  Committee 


18 
158 
124 
123 
147 
144 
144 
2 

38 

23 

22 

2 

24 
38 
22 
22 
38 
12 


90 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 


Section.          Pago. 

Buildings,  plans  for 

plans  for 12  9 

standards  for 1  73 

Business  establishments  may  be  visited 08 

C. 

Castine  Normal  School 140 

Census,  school,  return  of 

may  be  retaken 50  21 

unorganized  territory 3  7^ 

Certificates,  attendance  at  conventions Ill 

granting  of 128 

superintendence  grade -'•<)  27 

teachers'    1 2S 

failure  to  secure 131  50 

grades  of 128  .54 

Change  of  location  of  schools 2  o 

Child  Labor 20-31  12-15 

Christmas  Day 10U 

Circulars  of  information 

Cities,  certain,  having  charters 16 

Classes  of  free  high  school 73  34 

Classification  of  scholars 

Collectors,  powers  and  duties  of 

College  preparatory  course 

presidents 105  46 

Columbus  Day 109 

Committee  approves  plans 

arrange  terms  of  office 

election  of 32  10 

members  of  shall  not  teach 

powers  and  duties  of 37 

serve  without  pay 

vacancies  in 

Commitment  of  truants 

Common  school  funds 1 59 

assessment  of 160  60 

studies 122 

returns 124 

tuition 

Compensation  of  superintendent 

Compulsory  education 

unorganized  territory * 

school  age 30 

school  age 66 

Condition  of  school  children 

Conference  of  superintendents 58 

Construction  of  school  buildings 

Contagious  diseases 44,  53 

Continuance  of  school  unions 55 

Continuation  schools '. 

Contract  with  school  committee 

trustees  of  academy 

Control  of  schools  maintained  by  gifts 

Conventions,  state 

Conveyance  of  academy  property 

common  school  pupils 

secondary  school  pupils 78 

Cost  of  schooling  in  unorganized  territory 

Corporate  powers  of  school  district 

County  teachers'  associations 

formation  of 122 

Courses  of  study,  selection  of 

at  academies 98  44 

at  normal  schools 140 

at  normal  schools 141 

in  free  high  schools 81 

Credit  to  students 152 

D. 

Dates  of  returns,  census 50 

common  school 51                  21 

fiscal 31                 15 

Damages  laying  out  Jots 

Days  to  be  observed  as  school  holidays 109 

Deaf  and  Dumb  children,  education  of 1 


SCHOOL   LAWS   OF   MAINE. 


91 


Defacing  of  school  buildings 

Delinquent  towns 

Destruction  of  school  property 

Diplomas  at  normal  schools , 

Discharge  of  superintendent 

Discontinuance  of  schools 

Diseases  or  defects  of  pupils 

Dismissal  of  teacher 

Disposal  of  truants 

Districts,  school  abolished 

corporate  powers  of 

organized  by  legislative  act .  .  . 

Disturbing  schools,  penalty  for 

Domestic  Science,  aid  for  courses  iu .  .  . 

Defunct  town  and  plantations 

Duties  of  state  superintendent 

superintendent 

superintendent  and  committee . 

towns 

Drawing,  industrial  or  mechanical 


Section. 

151 

19 

150 

142 

37 

2 

44 

38 

65 

1 

1 

1 

149 

135 

9 

122 

49-59 

37 

16 

26 


Pago. 

63 

11 

63 

61 

17 

6 

19 

17 

30 

5 

5 

5 

63 
57 
80 
51 

21-27 
17 
10 
14 


E. 

Education  of  deaf  and  dumb  children 1  73 

Election  of  attendance  officers 68  32 

school  committees 32  16 

superintendent 37  17 

superintendent  of  union  of  towns 55  23 

Employment  of  children 20  12 

teachers 49  21 

Encouragement  of  industrial  education 133  56 

English  Course  in  academies ...._.  98  44 

Equalization  of  school  privileges 166  67 

fund,  secondary   schools 1  83 

Establishment  of  free  high  schools .  78  36 

union  schools 21  12 

Evening  Schools 25  14 

aid  to  towns  maintaining 137  58 

for  Americanization 137  58 

Examination  of  pupils  entering  secondary  schools 85        -         40 

pupils,  medical 43  19 

schools 49  21 

teachers 126  54 

Exclusion  by  committee 66  31 

of  scholars  on  account  of  contagious  diseases 53  22 

of  scholars  not  vaccinated 38  17 

Excused  by  committee,  attendance 66  31 

Exits  from  schoolhouses 10 

Expenditure  by  towns  failing  to  account  for  permanent  school  fund  17  11 

of  school  fund 22  12 

of  school  money 16  10 

of  school  money  of  plantations 50 

Expenses  of  teachers'  conventions 112  50 

Expulsion  of  scholars 17 


Failure  of  towns  to  account  for  permanent  school  fund 

to  perform  duties 11 

Farmington  Normal  School 60 

Fees  for  degrees 106  47 

Fifty  schools,  aid  to  superintendents  having  under  their  care  more  than  55 

Fire  protection  in  schools 15  10 

Fiscal  reports 

Flags,  appropriation  for 52 

on  public  buildings • 

Fog  warning  stations,  scholars  at 

Fraternities,  secret 

Free  High  Schools,  classification  of 

courses  of  study  in 

establishment  of 36 

improvement  of 34 

inspection  of 76  3." 

location  of 80  37 


92 


SCHOOL  LAWS   OF  MAINE. 


Section 

Free  High  Schools,  management  of 82 

money  for 83 

precincts 79 

precincts,  taxes  of 88 

reimbursement  for 7  } 

returns  of S7 

state  aid  to 74 

to  be  free .  '  [  81 

Fund,  permanent  school,  failure  to  account  for 17 

equalization Igy 

Funds,  free  high  school 78 

permanent  school 1  .->:; 

school i  .-,;; 

G. 

General  Industrial  Schools 138  58 

Gorham  Normal  School 1 40  60 

Grades  of  teachers'  certificates 128  54 

H. 

Habitual  truants 09  33 

Hearing,  examination  of 45  20 

on  location  of  lot 6  8 

Heating  school  buildings 14  9 

High  Schools,  classification  of ".  73  34 

courses  of  study  in 81  38 

establishment  of 78  36 

improvement  of 73  34 

inspection  of 7(i  35 

location  of 80  37 

management  of 82  39 

money  for 83  39 

precincts 7<»  37 

precincts,  taxes  for 88  42 

returns  for 87  41 

state  aid  to 74  35 

to  be  free 81  38 

Holidays,  school 109  48 

Hygiene,  instruction  in 38  17 

I. 

Improvement  of  free  high  schools 73  34 

Improvements  on  lots 10  8 

Income  of  academies ; 103  46 

Incorporation  of  academies 101  45 

Independence  Day 109  48 

Industrial  Education,  encouragement  of 133  56 

Industrial  Drawing 26  14 

Injury  to  school  buildings 150  63 

to  school  books  or  appliances 24  13 

Inspection,  medical 40  18 

of  free  high  schools 76  35 

Institutions  for  truants 71  33 

Instruction  for  blind 147  62 

Instructors  of  youth,  duties  of 108  47 

Inure  to  town,  improvements 10  8 

J. 

Joint  committee  of  union  towns 56  24 

Junior  high  schools 73  34 

tuition  in 75  35 

K. 

Kindergartens 30  14 

Kindness  to  birds  and  animals 108  20 

L. 

Labor  Day 109  48 

Laws,  publication  of  school 122  51 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 


93 


Section.        Page, 

Length  of  terms 20                 12 

of  school  month -49                 21 

of  school  week 49                 21 

Life  saving  stations,  scholars  at 29                 14 

Light  stations,  scholars  at 29                 14 

Lighting  school  buildings 14                   9 

Lincoln  Day 109                48 

List  of  approved  candidates  for  teachers'  certificates 129                 55 

persons  of  school  age 50                 21 

Location  of  free  high  schools 80                37 

schools 2                   6 

school  from  dwelling  houses 

schoolhouse  lots 

schoolhouse  lots,  erroneous 5                   7 

Lots,  schoolhouse 

erroneous  location 5                   7 

M. 

Machias  Normal  School 140                60 

Madawaska  Training  School 145                 61 

Management  of  schools 

Manual  Training,  aid  for  courses  in 135                 57 

schools 27                 14 

direction  of 28                 14 

Manufacturing  plants,  may  be  visited  by  attendance  officers 68                32 

Mechanical  Drawing 26 

Medical  inspection 40                 18 

Memorial  Day 109                48 

Mill  tax 155                 65 

assessment  of 156                 65 

Mill  fund,  distribution  of 157                 65 

distribution  of 161                 66 

Minimum  school  year 20                 12 

Money  for  free  high  schools 83                39 

for  schools 16                10 

how  paid  by  town 18 

Municipal  officers,  duties  of 31                 15 

N. 

Neglect  of  duty  by  attendance  officers 68                32 

towns 19 

to  choose  committee 35 

Normal  School  trustees 144                61 

Normal  Schools 140                 60 

appropriation  for 146 

industrial  courses  in 134 

upkeep  and  equipment 

Notice  of  appraisement 6 

of  diseases  to  parents 

teachers'  examinations 126 

Notification  of  delinquent  committees 125 

O. 

Office  of  State  Superintendent 121                 51 

Operation  of  schools  having  too  few  scholars 

Organization  of  secret  societies 

P. 

Part-time  and  Evening  Schools 1-3 

Patriots'  Day 109 

Payments  to  academies 

to  free  high  schools 98 

Penal  provisions  affecting  schools 

Penalty  for  disturbing  schools 

for  neglect  of  children 34 

for  neglect  to  choose  superintending  school  committee 35                 17 

Pensions,  teachers' 169                68 

Per  capita  expenditure 1^ 

tax,  unorganized  territory 

Perkins  Institute 

Permanent  school  fund 153 

failure  to  account  for 17 

Permits  for  teachers 

for  work..                                           21                 12 


94 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE. 


Section.          Page. 

Physical  condition  of  school  children 53 

Physical  education 1-4  74-75 

Physicians,  school 40  18 

Physiology,  instruction  in 38  17 

Plantations,  schools  in 113  50 

Plans  for  school  buildings 13  9 

to  be  approved  by  committee 12  9 

Playgrounds,  land  for 

Powers  and  Duties  of  superintending  school  committee 37,  38  17 

superintendent  of  schools 49-53,  59    21-22,  27 

Precinct  agent,  money  at  disposal  of 93  43 

free  high  school 79 

Precinct,  formation  of 79 

management  of 82  39 

to  be  free 81  38 

taxes 42 

assessment  of 89 

assessment  of  without  authority 91  43 

Presque  Isle  Normal  School 140  GO 

Principals  of  Normal  Schools 140 

Privileges,  secondary  school,  in  unorganized  territory 1  76 

Proceedings  of  conventions 122 

Property,  destruction  of  school 150 

Protection  of  life  in  buildings  used  for  public  purposes 63 

schools  from  fire 15  10 

Provision  for  heating,  lighting  and  ventilation 14 

Pupils  from  out  of  town  in  free  high  schools 81 

Presidents  of  colleges 105 

Q. 

Qualifications  of  normal  school  applicants 143  61 

teachers , 128 

superintendents  of  union  of  towns 59 

R. 

Raising  money  for  schools '.  • 16  10 

Rating  of  schools 1-2  73 

Record  books 122  51 

Registers,  teachers' 107  47 

Registration  of  teachers 1-3  71-72 

Reimbursement  for  free  high  schools 74 

tuition  paid 86  41 

Remodelling,  plans  to  be  approved 14 

Removal  of  schoolhouse. 3 

Report,  annual  of  state  superintendent 122 

of  superintendent  of  schools 49  21 

to  state  superintendent 50  21 

blanks  for  common  school .    .  124  53 

for  fiscal 123  53 

of  academies 104  46 

of  free  high  schools 87  41  . 

of  norma  ]school  trustees 144  61 

of  tuition  payments sc>  41 

of  union  superintendents 57  25 

to  town  meeting 49  21 

Reports  of  academies 104  46 

Returns,  annual,  municipal  officers 31  1 5 

annual,  superintendent  of  schools 50,  51  21 

from  educational  institutions  receiving  state  aid 104  4ti 

Reversion  of  lot  to  owner 3  7 

S. 

Safeguarding  schools  against  danger  of  fire 15  10 

Salary  of  union  superintendents 5»'>  24 

Scholars  at  light  stations,  etc 29  14 

classification  of 38  17 

exclusion  of 38  17 

expulsion  of 38  17 

School  age 30  14 

compulsory 66  31 

list  of  persons  of 49  21 

books  (see  textbooks) 

buildings,  defacing  of 151  63 

injury  to 150  63 

plans  for 13  9 


SCHOOL  LAWS  OF  MAINE.  95 

Section.         Page. 

School  census 49                 21 

may  be  retaken 

committee 16 

funds 153                 64 

distribution  of 157                  65 

expenditure  of 22                 12 

holidays 109                 48 

laws 122                 51 

money,  how  paid  by  towns. 11 

of  plantations 114                  50 

withheld 11 

month,  length  of 21 

physicians 40                 18 

week,  length  of 49                 21 

Schools,  change  in  location  of 6 

evening 25                 14 

fifty,  superintendents  of  more  than 55 

in  plantations 113 

in  unorganized  territory,  agents  for 5 

manual  training 27                  14 

normal  and  training    

appropriation  for 146                  62 

summer 122                  51 

union 12 

Second  hand  books 12 

Secondary  instruction,  unorganized  territory 76 

schools 72                  34 

equalization  fund  for 83 

Secret  societies 39 

Selectmen,  duties  of. :  - 

Services  of  teachers 47 

Sight,  examination  of 

Standization  of  schools 

State  aid,  academies 46 

free  high  schools 

misapplication  of 

to  superintendents  having  more  than  fifty  schools 57                  25 

union  of  towns 57                 25 

withheld 11 

educational  conventions 110                  49 

school  fund 153                  64 

superintendent  of  schools 50 

annual  report  of 122                  51 

appointment  of 120                  50 

duties  of 51 

investigate  industrial  edvication. .  .  .  133                  56 

office  of 121                 51 

Statistics  of  normal  schools 60 

Students,  credit  to 64 

Studies  in  common  schools 51 

Summer  training  schools 122 

Superintendence  grade  certificate 27 

of  schools  through  union  of  towns 55-62           23-30 

Superintendent,  compensation  of 56 

discharge  of 56                 24 

election  of 56                 24 

powers  and  duties  of 19  -53,  59     21-22,  27 

traveling  expenses  of 57 

Superintending  school  committee,  arrange  terms 33                 16 

election  of 32                 16 

member  of  shall  not  teach 

powers  and  duties  of 37                 17 

secretary  of 59 

serve  without  pay 

vacancies  in 33                 16 

Suspension  of  school 

schools  for  conventions Ill                  49 


Tax,  mill,  assessment  of 156  65 

for  school  purposes 155  65 

not  affected  by  error  in  location  of  school 11 

Teacher,  dismissal  of 

Teachers,  employment  of 

payment  for  services  of 

qualifications  of 

training  of  rural •. 1-2          73,  74 


96 


SCHOOL   LAWS   OF  MAINE. 


Section.         Page. 

Teachers'  agency 1                71 

associations 110                 49 

certificates 128                54 

failure  to  secure 131                  56 

grades  of 128                 54 

examinations 126                54 

appropriation  for 132                  56 

meetings,  expenses  of 112                50 

pensions 169                 68 

registers 107                 47 

Temporary  teaching  permits 130                55 

Tender  to  be  allowed  in  payment  of  lot 8 

Terms,  length  of 20                 1  •_' 

Tests  for  sight  and  hearing 45                 '_'<) 

Textbooks,  change  of 38                17 

distribution  of 23 

exclusive  use  of 22                 12 

loss  of  and  damage  to 24 

provision  of  for  secondary  school  tuition  students .  .' 40 

purchase  of 38                 17 

secondhand 22                 12 

Textbooks,  town  shall  provide 

uniform  system  of 38                 17 

Thanksgiving  Day 109                 48 

Towns,  by-lawa  concerning  truants 63                 30 

delinquent 19                 11 

duties  of 16 

providing  free  tuition  in  academy 84                 o'J 

Training  course  for  teachers  in  academies 98 

of  rural  teachers 1-2           73-74 

school,  Madawaska 145 

appropriation  for 146                 t>'2 

Transportation  of  pupils 

in  secondary  schools   78                 36 

Truancy 68                32 

abetting 70 

Truant  officers  (see  attendance  officers) 68 

election  of 68 

compensation  of 68                32 

duties  of 68 

in  unorganized  territory 5                 79 

neglect  of  duty  by 68                32 

Truants,  arrest  of 68                32 

disposal  of 65 

institutions  for 71 

Treasurer  of  State  to  apporto  school  money 154 

to  be  furnished  with  number  of  persons  of  school 

age 125 

Trustees  of  academies 94 

normal  schools 144 

Tuition  in  common  schools 67 

junior  high  schools 73 

secondary  schools 84                39 

returns 86 

scholars 67 

U. 

Unexpended  balance 18                 11 

Union  of  towns  for  school  superintendence 55-61 

all  towns  combined  by  the 

state  superintendent 55 

annual  returns 57 

conference  for  instruction . .  58 

joint  committee  of 56 

number  of  schools  in 

provisions  for  remote  towns  61 ,  62 

salaries  of  superintendents.  58 
towns  and  cities  of  over  fifty 

schools  need  not  unite ...  57 

Union  schools 

management  of 

superintendents,  appropriation  for  salaries  of 

compensation  of 

conference  of 58 

election  of 56 

qualifications  of 59 


SCHOOL   LAWS    OF  MAINE.  97 

Section.  Page 

Unorganized  territory,  school  agents 5  79 

school  buildings 7  80 

schoolhouse  lots 6  79 

schools  in 1  75 

appropriation  for 2  77 

secondary  instruction  in 1  75 

truancy  and  child  labor 10  81 


Vacancies,  superintending  school  committee 33  16 

Vacation  permits 22  85 

Vaccinated,  exclusion  of  scholars  not 38           .      17 

Ventilating  school  buildings 14  9 

Vocational  education 1  72 

appropriation  for 3  72 

W. 

Washington  Normal  School 140  60 

Washington's  Birthday 109  48 

Welfare  of  school  children 53  22 

Withholding  of  state  aid 19  11 

Work  permits 21  84 

Y. 

Year,  minimum  school 20  12 


738445 


3)3 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


